A Plainwell-based state biologist officially verified a new Michigan fishing record this week, confirming a 4.45-pound gizzard shad caught on the Grand River.
Matt Diana, a fisheries biologist with the Michigan Department of Natural Resources' Southern Lake Michigan Fisheries Management Unit in Plainwell, verified the catch made by Sedrick Neinhuis of Lowell, Michigan, according to a May 7 press release from the DNR.
Neinhuis caught the fish while spincasting on the Grand River in Kent County on the afternoon of Wednesday, April 22, the DNR reported.
A 30-Year Record Broken
The new state-record gizzard shad weighed 4.45 pounds and measured 20.3 inches long, according to the DNR release.
That beats the previous state record of 4.12 pounds and 21 inches, which was set in 1996 when an angler caught a gizzard shad by baitcasting on Lake St. Clair in St. Clair County.
"We kind of knew the fish was there," Neinhuis said of that day on the water. "Our mission this year was to get one close to 5 pounds. There are a lot of big ones out there, but it's one of those fish people don't ever report. I'm hoping next year we can get one even bigger."
How State Records Are Verified
Michigan state-record fish are recognized by weight only, the DNR stated.
To qualify for a state record, a fish must meet three requirements according to the DNR:
- Exceed the current listed state-record weight for that species
- Be weighed on a certified commercial scale
- Have its identification verified by a DNR fisheries biologist
Gizzard shad are native to Michigan and are named for their gizzard, a muscular organ filled with grit and stones that helps break down food, the DNR noted in its release.
Diana, who oversees regional fish populations from the Plainwell office, confirmed Neinhuis' catch met all the requirements for the new state record.
For more information on Michigan state-record fish, the DNR directs anglers to Michigan.gov/StateRecordFish.