Huge goldfish caught last week at Lake Valencia
Maumelle Monitor, Ark. USA
By Bill Lawson / Staff Writer
Thursday, May 7, 2009
Josh Womack displays his proud catch of a huge goldfish he caught on Lake Valencia. Game and Fish officials said although the release of pet fish like a goldfish is illegal, they often grow to large sizes in area lakes. (James Knabe)
Maumelle resident Josh Womack said he couldn’t believe his eyes when he hooked a giant goldfish at Lake Valencia last week. Womack and his friend, James Knabe, were fishing for catfish and using stink bait. After admiring the huge fish and posing for photos, he said he turned it back loose into the lake.
“We did not weigh it, although now I wish I had, but I estimate the length was around 24 to 28 inches. James Knabe took the picture with my cell phone. There were some employees watching from the balcony of the offices at 600 Pine Forest. The odd looking building between the library and Pine Forest Elementary,” said Womack.
Clifton Jackson, a fish biologist with the Arkansas Game and Fish Commission, said goldfish can be that large when they are turned loose in lakes. He said turning pet fish like goldfish loose in lakes is against the law. He said a coy [sic] is a similar fish often mistaken for goldfish but after viewing the photo he said this is definitely the largest goldfish he’s ever seen.
He said the goldfish is probably a state record but it would have to be weighed on certified scales to be so designated.
Jackson said the cooler weather this year has prevented the commission from restocking the lakes in Maumelle with catfish. He said both lakes should be restocked this week with catfish they’ve been holding since February.
Jackson said the catfish wouldn’t bite in cooler weather so that’s why they are waiting for the weather to get warmer before they do the catfish restocking.
Womack, a Little Rock firefighter, said he fishes often at the lake on his free time. He said several employees at a nearby office building watched him land this huge goldfish.
Jackson said non-native fish like a goldfish can be harmful to the local fish habitat. He said pet fish often carry infectious diseases that native fish aren’t capable of fighting off. That’s why it’s illegal to dump pet fish in local ponds, lakes and rivers, he said.
Goldfish do spawn and will multiply in the lake, he said.
“They upset the balance of nature,” Jackson said. “And they often will outfight native fish for habitat and food.”
http://pulaskinews.net/articles/2009/05/07/maumelle_monitor/local_news/nws05.txt
Maumelle Monitor, Ark. USA
By Bill Lawson / Staff Writer
Thursday, May 7, 2009
Josh Womack displays his proud catch of a huge goldfish he caught on Lake Valencia. Game and Fish officials said although the release of pet fish like a goldfish is illegal, they often grow to large sizes in area lakes. (James Knabe)
Maumelle resident Josh Womack said he couldn’t believe his eyes when he hooked a giant goldfish at Lake Valencia last week. Womack and his friend, James Knabe, were fishing for catfish and using stink bait. After admiring the huge fish and posing for photos, he said he turned it back loose into the lake.
“We did not weigh it, although now I wish I had, but I estimate the length was around 24 to 28 inches. James Knabe took the picture with my cell phone. There were some employees watching from the balcony of the offices at 600 Pine Forest. The odd looking building between the library and Pine Forest Elementary,” said Womack.
Clifton Jackson, a fish biologist with the Arkansas Game and Fish Commission, said goldfish can be that large when they are turned loose in lakes. He said turning pet fish like goldfish loose in lakes is against the law. He said a coy [sic] is a similar fish often mistaken for goldfish but after viewing the photo he said this is definitely the largest goldfish he’s ever seen.
He said the goldfish is probably a state record but it would have to be weighed on certified scales to be so designated.
Jackson said the cooler weather this year has prevented the commission from restocking the lakes in Maumelle with catfish. He said both lakes should be restocked this week with catfish they’ve been holding since February.
Jackson said the catfish wouldn’t bite in cooler weather so that’s why they are waiting for the weather to get warmer before they do the catfish restocking.
Womack, a Little Rock firefighter, said he fishes often at the lake on his free time. He said several employees at a nearby office building watched him land this huge goldfish.
Jackson said non-native fish like a goldfish can be harmful to the local fish habitat. He said pet fish often carry infectious diseases that native fish aren’t capable of fighting off. That’s why it’s illegal to dump pet fish in local ponds, lakes and rivers, he said.
Goldfish do spawn and will multiply in the lake, he said.
“They upset the balance of nature,” Jackson said. “And they often will outfight native fish for habitat and food.”
http://pulaskinews.net/articles/2009/05/07/maumelle_monitor/local_news/nws05.txt
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Kois do have barbels whereas goldfish don't. Neat goldie though.