An angler reeled in a state record gizzard shad on the afternoon of Wednesday, April 22, using a spin cast reel, the Michigan Department of Natural Resources announced Thursday.
Sedrick Neinhuis, of Lowell, caught the gizzard shad weighing 4.5 pounds and measuring 20.3 inches long on the Grand River in Kent County.
“We kind of knew the fish was there,” said DNR fisheries biologist Matt Diana said. “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.”
The previous state record gizzard shad, which was 4.12 pounds and 21 inches, was caught by bait casting on Lake St. Clair.
What are gizzard shad?
Gizzard shad are native to Michigan and are named for their gizzard, a muscular organ filled with grit and stones that helps to break down food, more commonly associated with birds like chickens and turkeys than with fish, the DNR says.
According to the National Park Service, average shad are 6-8 inches long and weigh 1-8 ounces.
Catch a prize fish? What to do if you think you set a record
Michigan’s state-record fish are recognized by weight, not length.
To qualify, fish must exceed the current listed state-record weight and be weighed on a certified commercial scale and verified by a DNR fisheries biologist.
To view a current list of Michigan state-record fish by species, visit Michigan.gov/StateRecordFish.
How can I buy a fishing license?
Fishing licenses can be purchased at Michigan.gov/DNRLicenses or by downloading the Michigan DNR Hunt Fish app and purchasing through the app. You also may purchase licenses in person at a variety of stores.
For Michiganders who regularly renew their license, select auto-renewal at checkout to automatically buy future licenses as they become available.
A checklist of what you need to start fishing
To get started fishing in Michigan the DNR recommends:
This article originally appeared on Detroit Free Press: Angler catches a state record on the Grand River by the gizzard
Reporting by Jalen Williams, USA TODAY NETWORK / Detroit Free Press
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
