Story by Craig Nyhus, Lone Star Outdoor News
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After eight months, the goal of Finley Miller was finally realized. The avid angler and Irving resident landed a likely state record goldfish that weighed in at 8 pounds, 12 ounces.
“The fish was first caught in February by a good friend of mine,” Miller said. “He thought it was a koi, and got some pictures of it and released it. When I studied the pictures, I told him it was a goldfish, and probably the state record goldfish.”
The pair have been chasing the fish ever since.
“We hit up that place as much as we could,” Miller said.
That place is a pond on the campus of Richland College (now called Dallas College Richland Campus).
“There are two ponds there, and some pretty good bass too,” Miller said. “It’s an interesting place.”
Miller only started fishing a few years ago, and is a carp-fishing fanatic.
“I learned to fish by fishing for carp,” he said. “Carp, goldfish and koi are under appreciated. Wherever they are, I won’t be far behind. The hunt for the giants is what keeps me going.”
On Oct. 10, Miller was fishing the pond for carp with a hair rig.
“I caught three carp under an overhanging tree,” he said. “Then I hooked this fish, and as it came closer, I recognized it. My adrenaline went through the roof — I was shaking until I got it in the net. Once I got her in the net, I started calling everyone I knew immediately.”
Miller said he knows how to tell the difference between a carp, a koi and a goldfish, although he said goldfish can hybridize with carp.
“You look for barbels (whiskers by the mouth),” he said. “If there are no barbels, it’s a goldfish. And you count the scales along the lateral line of the fish. A goldfish has 27 to 29. A carp has 35 to 39.”
Miller’s catch had 29 scales along the lateral line.
“It’s a pure goldfish,” he said.
The only larger goldfish caught that he knows of is the world record caught in California. Miller’s fish, which will top the state record by several pounds once confirmed, came just a few ounces shy of the besting Miller took the fish to Bass Pro Shops in Garland to be weighed, and he donated the fish to the store, where it still swims in the store’s waters.
“My buddy and I decided if we catch it, we would donate to be on display,” he said. “We want to increase awareness for carp fishing.”
Will he get a replica made?
“At some point,” he said. “But I don’t have a lot of money. But it was a fish of a lifetime.”
The current state record is 5.63 pounds and was caught in Denton.
