South Dakota scraps 70-year-old fish record

SIOUX FALLS, S.D. (AP) – South Dakota wildlife officials are voiding their oldest state fish record after determining that the fish had been misidentified.

State Fisheries Program Administrator Geno Adams says the 55-pound fish caught by Roy Groves in 1949 has been the subject of controversy for years. It was originally identified as a channel catfish, but many have argued that it was a blue catfish.

Adams took what he called “an informal poll” by sending the photo to experts in fish identification and South Dakota State University fisheries professors. The group unanimously agreed it was a blue catfish.

State Game, Fish and Parks officials have tabbed the quest for a new record channel catfish as “Catrush 2019” and expect the mark to be broken several times over the next few weeks.

AP-WF-05-20-19