Last night, Jeff Allard, one of our RI CAG members unofficially broke the state record for carp at 33 lbs. 8 oz. It is an unofficial record because Jeff released the fish after weighing it and taking some photos. In order to qualify as an official state record, the fish must be weighed at a bait shop on an official certified scale and then submitted to the state for review. Since the fish was caught at night, it would not have been weighed until the next day, meaning almost certain death to to this huge fish which was probably filled with eggs. There was no question in Jeff's mind that he would release it. His words after catching the fish, " I can't keep this fish and kill it. It's not worth my name on a piece of paper. " So, being the true sportsman that he is, Jeff released it!
Jeff's catch will be listed as a new CAG (Carp Anglers Group) record since the CAG requires simply a weight and a witness (Nick Newton was fishing with Jeff).
Many of us in the RI CAG predicted the record would fall this year since our members have been landing some massive fish in the last year. It's great that Jeff was the one who landed it. It's a well deserved honor.
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