A Virginia bow angler who landed a 3-pound, 9-ounce goldfish recently near the Potomac River has been granted a state record.
Jeremy Fortner of Chesterfield shot the giant goldfish May 22 in Hunting Creek, a tributary of the Potomac.
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The Virginia Department of Wildlife Resources approved the record last week, explaining that the 16-inch goldfish, with a 15-inch girth, is the “Virginia Archery State Record Goldfish.”
The state allows archery fishing for certain species, including carp, gar, bowfin, and some types of catfish.
Fortner was the first Virginian to submit a goldfish for record consideration since the species was included in the state-record program in 2020.
Goldfish were introduced into Virginia’s waters illegally and the state does not welcome their proliferation.
In a news release announcing Fortner’s catch, the Department of Wildlife Resources included this reminder to residents:
“The introduction of goldfish to waterbodies is illegal in Virginia. Pet owners should never release their aquatic organisms into the wild as unforeseen impacts can occur including disease, competition, and predation.”
–Image showing Jeremy Fortner is courtesy of the Virginia Department of Wildlife Resources