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New York State Record White Perch Caught in Westchester County
A late November trip to a quiet Westchester County reservoir has produced New York’s newest state fishing record, and one of the most impressive white perch ever documented in the Northeast.
According to the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation, Brooklyn angler Yongfeng Tian landed a 3-pound, 4-ounce white perch on November 23 while fishing the Cross River Reservoir. The fish eclipsed the previous state record, which had stood since 1991, by just three ounces.
DEC Commissioner Amanda Lefton said the catch highlights the quality of fishing available across the state’s public waters and encouraged anglers to take advantage of New York’s diverse fisheries.
Built in 1908, Cross River Reservoir has long been part of New York City’s water system and is now the site of a record-breaking white perch
White perch are common throughout New York’s lakes, reservoirs, rivers, and tidal systems, including the Hudson River. Known for their schooling behavior, they are popular light tackle targets that readily strike small jigs, worms, and minnows. Most white perch measure under a pound, which makes Tian’s fish, more than twice the size of an average specimen, especially remarkable.
Tian was fishing alone from a 12-foot rowboat when he marked a school of fish near a drop-off in about 35 feet of water using a portable depth finder. Fishing clear water with temperatures in the 40s, he cast a small 1/8-ounce red plastic-tail jig on light spinning gear spooled with six-pound test line.
After landing several one-pound white perch, Tian hooked a much heavier fish that repeatedly dove toward the bottom. When he finally netted it, he initially thought it might be a carp. A closer look confirmed it was an unusually large white perch.
After weighing the fish on certified scales at a Brooklyn supermarket, Tian drove to a state conservation office where the species and weight were officially verified. The perch was then certified as New York’s new state record.
Yongfeng Tian grips the record-setting white perch that topped a 34-year-old New York state mark after being caught at Cross River Reservoir
Tian submitted his catch through DEC’s revamped Angler Achievement Awards Program, which recognizes anglers who meet or exceed qualifying sizes for 40 eligible species. Submissions can now be completed online using a smartphone, making the process more accessible for anglers across the state.
New York officials say the program supports the state’s broader effort to encourage residents to get outdoors and engage with local recreation opportunities.
As for the record fish, Tian has no plans to put it on the dinner table.
“I’ve got it frozen, but I’m not going to eat it,” he said. “I’m going to have a mount made of the fish.”
The post New York State Record White Perch Caught in Westchester County appeared first on OutdoorHub.
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New York State Record White Perch Caught in Westchester County
A late November trip to a quiet Westchester County reservoir has produced New York’s newest state fishing record, and one of the most impressive white perch ever documented in the Northeast.
According to the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation, Brooklyn angler Yongfeng Tian landed a 3-pound, 4-ounce white perch on November 23 while fishing the Cross River Reservoir. The fish eclipsed the previous state record, which had stood since 1991, by just three ounces.
DEC Commissioner Amanda Lefton said the catch highlights the quality of fishing available across the state’s public waters and encouraged anglers to take advantage of New York’s diverse fisheries.
Built in 1908, Cross River Reservoir has long been part of New York City’s water system and is now the site of a record-breaking white perch
White perch are common throughout New York’s lakes, reservoirs, rivers, and tidal systems, including the Hudson River. Known for their schooling behavior, they are popular light tackle targets that readily strike small jigs, worms, and minnows. Most white perch measure under a pound, which makes Tian’s fish, more than twice the size of an average specimen, especially remarkable.
Tian was fishing alone from a 12-foot rowboat when he marked a school of fish near a drop-off in about 35 feet of water using a portable depth finder. Fishing clear water with temperatures in the 40s, he cast a small 1/8-ounce red plastic-tail jig on light spinning gear spooled with six-pound test line.
After landing several one-pound white perch, Tian hooked a much heavier fish that repeatedly dove toward the bottom. When he finally netted it, he initially thought it might be a carp. A closer look confirmed it was an unusually large white perch.
After weighing the fish on certified scales at a Brooklyn supermarket, Tian drove to a state conservation office where the species and weight were officially verified. The perch was then certified as New York’s new state record.
Yongfeng Tian grips the record-setting white perch that topped a 34-year-old New York state mark after being caught at Cross River Reservoir
Tian submitted his catch through DEC’s revamped Angler Achievement Awards Program, which recognizes anglers who meet or exceed qualifying sizes for 40 eligible species. Submissions can now be completed online using a smartphone, making the process more accessible for anglers across the state.
New York officials say the program supports the state’s broader effort to encourage residents to get outdoors and engage with local recreation opportunities.
As for the record fish, Tian has no plans to put it on the dinner table.
“I’ve got it frozen, but I’m not going to eat it,” he said. “I’m going to have a mount made of the fish.”
The post New York State Record White Perch Caught in Westchester County appeared first on OutdoorHub.
Continue reading...