Big fish story: State-record Perch caught in Katonah

KATONAH, N.Y. - What a whopper!

A record-breaking white perch has been hauled from the Cross River Reservoir in Katonah, the state Department of Environmental Conservation crowed recently.

The catch was made by Yongfeng Tian of Brooklyn in late November.

At 3 pounds and 4 ounces, the not-so-little fishie swam past the previous state record White Perch, which was caught in 1991, by 3 ounces.

The new record is “a testament to the incredible fishing opportunities” that the state’s waters provide, said Commissioner Amanda Lefton, congratulating Tian on “an impressive catch” and encouraging anglers to visit the DEC’s website for opportunities to “catch the next record fish.”

White perch are a common freshwater fish found in lakes and rivers throughout the state, including the Hudson River.

They are known for their schooling behavior and once located, can provide “a lot of action,” said the DEC. A variety of small baits and lures, such as jigs, worms, and minnows, are used to snag them.

(FYI, the white perch aka Morone americana is not a true perch, but a fish of the temperate bass family, Moronidae.)

Angler Awards

The DEC’s newly revamped Angler Achievement Awards Program tracks record fish in the state and officially recognizes folks who caught any of the 40 eligible fish species that meet or exceed the minimum qualifying lengths established for them.

The program supports Gov. Kathy Hochul's “Get Offline, Get Outside” physical and mental health initiative, which encourages children and adults to “put down their phones and computers, take a break from social media, and enjoy recreation and outdoor social gatherings,” the DEC said.

Good to Know

For access sites, fish stocking, regulations, etc. check out the “Tackle Box” feature in the DEC’s HuntFishNY app. Also good for information is https://dec.ny.gov/things-to-do/freshwater-fishing/angler-achievement-awards-program.