The 8 lb. 4 oz. Smallmouth Bass ‘That Didn’t Get Away’

Patrick Hildenbrand caught an 8 lb. 4 oz. Smallmouth bass from the St. Lawrence River and ties the state record from 1995. 

This is one big fish. The record-tying smallmouth bass was caught during a NY The Bass Federation (NYTBF) Tournament on the St. Lawrence River. According to NYTBF: The bass was initially reported as 8.15 pounds. The tournament scales were sent out for a recertification due to the possibility of a state record fish. After getting the recertified scales back, Patrick’s fish was found to weigh in at 8 lbs. 4 oz. This tied the New York state smallmouth record set in 1995 by Andrew Kartesz. The fish measured 21 ½” long and had a girth of 20 ¾” around. After weighing, measuring, and photographing the fish, it was successfully released back into the river.

The Poughkeepsie fisherman says he's been fishing his entire life. "When I first set the hook on it I knew it was big because it didn't move much. Once I got it to the surface I could see how big she was. She surfaced a few more times but every time she was the boat it would dive back down. When I finally got it in the boat I couldn't believe how big it was. I have caught a bunch of big fish before but never one that was 8.4. I have caught a bunch of fish that were 5 and 6 pounds before."

The DEC says New York's Great Lakes and tributaries have provided 12 of the 45 current state records. The St. Lawrence River/Thousand Islands area is particularly well known for its outstanding smallmouth bass fishery. Check out the list of all the record breakers in NYS.

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