New Jersey Division of Fish and Wildlife

June 25, 2001

According to the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection's Division of Fish and Wildlife, a new state record grass carp was taken from Garrison Lake in Gloucester County on May 31. Steve Babilino of Turnersville caught a 50-pound grass carp that weighed 20 pounds more than the suggested minimum for this brand new record category.

Babilino was fishing from the shore of Garrison Lake when he landed the carp on 6-pound test. The fish measured 47 inches in length with a 32-inch girth. He took the fish to the Division's Southern Region Office in Camden County for verification.

The grass carp is one of the largest members of the minnow family and may reach 100 pounds. They can withstand water temperatures from as low as 32 degrees Fahrenheit (F) to over 90 degrees F.

The Record Fish Program honors the largest species of fish caught in the state. It revolves around a specific list of eligible freshwater and saltwater species, and is based on weight alone (there are no line classes). Scale certification documentation and a weighmaster's signature are necessary. Other rules apply. For more information or to request an application, call 609-633-7768. Visit the Division website at www.njfishandwildlife.com for a complete list of state record fish.