Biggest Fish Alive: 67-Pound Goldfish Caught in the French Lake

(Photo : Pexels / Yash Gupta)

Fishing is a sport that is enjoyed by many all over the globe. Fishermen in the French Lake, specifically, may catch a largemouth bass or panfish every once in a while. However, it is not a common sight to see an angler wrestle in catching a 67-pound goldfish for a full 25 minutes.

Encounter With a Whopping 67-Pound Goldfish

This rare sight was the case for Andy Hackett, an angler from Worcestershire. According to BBC News, Hackett had a tug-of-war with a giant goldfish in Champagne. This took place while Hackett was on his way to France.

BBC News also shared that this enormous fish, dubbed The Carrot, has been elusive for 20 years since it was first released into the Bluewater Lakes. Unlike other goldfishes, the Carrot was a hybrid of both a koi and a leather carp and had enormously grown in size over the years. It was only until Andy Hackett and his rod came along that the giant made itself known.

It took Hackett 25 minutes to reel the Carrot. BBC News also shares that to date. The Carrot is one of the biggest fishes of its type to have been caught.

According to Global News, Bluewater Lakes spokesman Jason Cowler shared with FTW Outdoors that the Carrot was released into the lake as a unique catch for anglers to try out. While most carps have a pale or brownish color, the Carrot had a unique and strong orange hue.

After Hackett had caught the enormous beast, he released it back into the lake to give other fishermen the opportunity to see and catch it, as reported by BBC News.

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How the Carrot Grew in Size in The French Lake

According to CNN, typical goldfishes hardly reach a pound in weight. However, in certain circumstances, the species is capable of reaching larger proportions. When such fishes have a lot of space and have a good diet and are surrounded by good water conditions, carp species (which includes koi and goldfish), can become large. This is why the Carrot was able to reach such a size.

As further reported by CNN, research biologist Dr. Zeb Hogan noted that a carp that weighs 70 pounds is an impressive and big fish. He further stated that there are actually other types of carp-goldish relatives-that can grow to become huge. These species can be found across Asia and Europe. Some of them can weigh as heavy as 500 pounds.

According to Dr. Hogan, this undeniable growth is also known as indeterminate growth. This type of growth refers to a certain condition in which the animal rapidly grows in its youth. The animal then keeps growing in size even after it reaches adulthood. Simply stated, as the animal ages, it keeps on growing.

This also means that the Carrot may also keep on getting bigger. Hogan shares that if someone catches it again in a few years' time, it might be bigger than it is right now.