ALBANY — The New York State Department of Environmental Conservation announced the first state record fish of the year. On May 3, while shorefishing with his son, Dylan Kampnich of Dexter reeled in a 37-pound 9-ounce channel catfish from Black River Bay in Jefferson County. Mr. Kampnich’s record-breaking catch surpassed the previous state record catfish caught in 2022, also from the Black River, by 13 ounces.

“We are so fortunate to have incredibly diverse and affordable fishing opportunities across the state,” DEC Acting Commissioner Amanda Lefton said. “Congratulations to Mr. Kampnich on his record-breaking catfish. This catch is a great example of what New York’s abundant waterways have to offer and the thrilling news of this catch will certainly get anglers excited about getting on the water this season.”

Channel catfish are the largest members of the catfish species that live in New York. They feed primarily on the bottom at night and are most easily caught using live bait such as worms or baitfish. When hooked, catfish can provide a challenge for even the most experienced anglers. For more information on fishing for catfish visit DEC’s website.

Kampnich submitted details of his winning catch as part of DEC’s newly revamped Angler Achievement Awards Program, which tracks state record fish and recognizes anglers who catch any of the 40 eligible fish species that meet or exceed the minimum qualifying lengths established for that species. Through this program, anglers can enter freshwater fish that meet specific qualifying criteria and receive official recognition of their catch along with a species-specific sticker commemorating their achievement.

The program’s three categories are: Angler Award; Youth Angler Award; and State Record. As part of the program revamp, anglers can now submit entries for qualifying catches from the convenience of their smart phone through an online entry form. For official program rules, eligible species, and associated minimum qualifying lengths, visit the Angler Achievement Awards webpage.

The program further supports Governor Kathy Hochul’s “Get Offline, Get Outside” initiative that promotes physical and mental health by helping encourage New York’s kids and families to put down their phones and computers, take a break from social media, and enjoy recreation and outdoor social gatherings. Anglers are encouraged to check out the Tackle Box feature in DEC’s HuntFishNY app that provides one-stop-shopping for information on access sites, stocking, regulations and more.