30-Pound Carp Caught In Schuylkill River

PHILADELPHIA – A Schuylkill River angler landed quite the fish recently. In fact, it was a 30-pound carp that a local man who is no stranger to landing big fish reeled in.

The fisherman, 51-year-old Philly native Troy Rimes, landed the carp at Locust Point Sunday, July 30.

Rimes said his brother in law told him about the big fish at Locust Point, and as a longtime fisherman, Rimes had to see if he was telling tales.

"I went down there Sunday and stayed all day to see if he was lying," Rimes told Patch.

Then, lo and behold, he got a bite and could tell it was something big.

Rimes initially thought the fish was a catfish, as the carp kept heading to the bottom of the river.

For about 15 minutes he fought the fish, then he said there was a five minute period where he and the fish played a waiting game.

"It was a battle of who would give first, Rimes said. "He gave first and started coming up."

That's when he was shocked.

While Rimes says he caught a 28-pound carp earlier this year, this carp was even more impressive as it topped out at 30 pounds.

"My buddy had to get someone nearby to help land him," Rimes said. "When that guy looked down into the long net and saw it he was shocked."

"The first thing I heard was someone scream 'oh my god,'" he said. But Rimes, whose been fishing since the early 1970s, said he's used to hearing people exclaim at his big catches.

Amara Rockar, who was relaxing nearby with her family that day, said she was surprised and shocked.

Meanwhile at the Schuylkill River. pic.twitter.com/28VjJZV7TZ
— Amara Rockar (@arockar) July 30, 2017

"He was reeling it in and it looked like he had something," she said. "I didn't expect to see anything like that in the river."

This one, however, was different.

Rimes said as soon as the fish was landed, people began crowding, taking photos.

"I like to catch and release as fast as possible," Rimes said, saying he doesn't want to hurt the fish by keeping them on dry land too long. "But I was tired too. So I'm trying to get the pictures, catch my breath, and get him back in the water."

Rimes eventually got the carp back to his Schuylkill home and will surely never forget this catch.

Rockar said she was thrilled to see Rimes return the fish to its habitat.

"Troy deserves credit for that," Rockar said, saying it was a good lesson for her young children who saw the event unfold.

Image via Troy Rimes, Philly Fishing Schuylkill & Delaware River East Falls Fishing Crew Facebook