The first New York State record fish of 2024 has officially been established. Chuck Zimmerman of Hilton, NY recently smashed the 2018 state record by over a pound when he hooked into a monster longnose gar (Lepisosteus osseus) on Butterfield Lake, near Redwood, in Jefferson County while fishing with friends during their annual week-long trip.
It measured over 53 inches and weighed in at 15 pounds 14 ounces. Longnose gar have a typical lifespan of 15–20 years with a maximum reported age of 39.
Along with sturgeon, longnose gar are considered “living dinosaurs,” as the genus may have been present in North America for about 100 million years. Their long, needle-like snout is filled with rows of teeth, making them tough to mistake from any other fish species.
Longnose gar are commonly found in shallow weedy areas and are often found swimming near the water’s surface. Their distribution is primarily in the St. Lawrence River, Niagara River, Lake Champlain, eastern Lake Ontario, and the larger tributaries to these waters.
The most common prey of longnose gar are small fish and occasionally insects and small crustaceans; they mostly feed at night.
Photo of Chuck Zimmerman with his New York State record longnose gar (provided by DEC).
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