MI Angler Reels In Record Breaking Fish

KENT COUNTY, MI — A west Michigan angler caught a record gizzard shad last month, according to the Michigan Department of Natural Resources.

Sedrick Neinhuis was spincasting on the Grand River in Kent County in the afternoon on April 22 when he reeled in the record-breaking gizzard shad.

The fish weighed 4.45 pounds and measured 20.3 inches long. The fish beats the previous state record, which was 4.12 pounds and 21 inches long, caught by baitcasting in 1996 on Lake St. Clair.

"We kind of knew the fish was there," Neinhuis said. "Our mission this year was to get one close to 5 pounds. There are a lot of big ones out there, but it’s one of those fish people don’t ever report. I’m hoping next year we can get one even bigger."

DNR fisheries biologist Matt Diana verified Neinhuis’ record-breaking fish.

Gizzard shad are native to Michigan and are named for their gizzard, a muscular organ filled with grit and stones that helps to break down food, a trait that is more commonly associated with birds like chickens than with fish.

They are typically 8 to 14 inches long and usually weigh around 1 pound.