Nice catch! But it's no record

The kind of carp the fisherman got doesn't qualify as a recreational game fish.
PITTSBURGH (AP) -- Dennis Russian has a great fish story to tell, but no state record to show for it.
While bow fishing on Presque Isle Bay in May, Russian shot a 54-pound, 4-ounce carp.
That much is true. But the full truth is, he shot a grass carp -- and the state Fish and Boat Commission said its carp record was only intended to recognize the common carp.
"There is no doubt that Mr. Russian's fish is impressive, and it's especially remarkable that he was able to take it by bow and arrow," Doug Austen, executive director of the state Fish and Boat Commission, said in a recent statement.
"However ... there was simply no way a grass carp -- no matter how large -- could qualify as a recreational fishing record."
Grass carp are used for weed control, and a special permit from the state is required to possess them, officials said.
Still, many have made their way into waterways in Pennsylvania and elsewhere.
Agreement reached
A hearing before fish commission officials that had been scheduled for earlier this month on whether Russian's catch qualified for a record was dropped when both sides reached an agreement.
"After discussions with the Fish and Boat Commission, I understand why there is no record category for grass carp. It's a big fish though -- a really big fish -- and the publicity around it has definitely got people talking about bow fishing, and that's a good thing," Russian said in a statement released by the commission.
Russian, of New Alexandria, did not want to comment further, said his attorney, John Greiner.
"He got a very nice certificate of recognition ... and he will get recognition through this article. And really, his concern is promoting this sport, and he believes the article will really help promote the sport," Greiner said Friday.
Russian plans to hang a replica of the fish at his archery shop. The real one began to spoil and he got rid of it, Greiner said.
Commission spokesman Dan Tredinnick said some record categories have been modified to specify Latin names to avoid future confusion.
"We never anticipated some of these species being here," he said.
The state record for the largest common carp -- Latin name Cyprinus carpio -- is 52 pounds. It was taken in 1962 from the Juniata River.
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