I've never been much of a fisherman. Mostly I find it dull. Or hot and dull. Or cold and dull. Did I mention dull? But I honestly don't think I would have found this dull. A Pennsylvania man just landed a 49 inch long, 54 pound carp. If the weight is officially confirmed, it will be the state record, surpassing a 52 pounder caught in 1962.
For (Dennis) Russian's fish to be declared a record, it has to be weighed on a certified scale — those that are inspected by state Weights and Measures officials, Tredinnick said. Such scales are at post offices, butcher shops and grocery stores.
If the fish is heavy enough, Russian has to submit paperwork documenting the catch to the Fish and Boat Commission, which will have a biologist inspect the fish to make sure it is a carp and that there is nothing artificially inflating its weight, such as lead pellets.
"It was really nice to get a record," Russian said. "It was an ugly, yellow-bellied thing. Makes good raccoon bait."
Russian said he planned on taking the carp home, "chop it up and feed it to the skunks and possum. It's good for the ecology."
That's a big fish. I don't know if carp are good for anything, though. Even the ecology.
