A young fishing enthusiast from Buffalo, Gregory Martin, is on the verge of setting a new state record after reeling in an impressive pumpkinseed fish over the weekend. The 5-year-old made the catch while fishing with his family on Oneida Lake late Saturday morning.
Using his aunt Hope Pragacz’s boat from Binghamton, Martin hooked the pumpkinseed with a classic fishing setup: a simple hook, worm, and drop-shot sinker. The fish tipped the scales at 1 pound 15 ounces, an impressive size for the species.
Unfortunately, during transport, the fish lost an ounce, bringing its official weight down to 1 pound 14 ounces. Despite this, the catch still surpasses the previous New York state record for pumpkinseed, which was 1 pound 9 ounces—a record that has stood since 1994 and was matched in 2020.
The catch is currently awaiting official certification by the New York Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC), with more details to come. If verified, young Gregory will hold the state title for this species, an impressive feat for such a young angler.
Image/Source: Wired2Fish
