Giant Fish Found in Central Park's Lake

When the Parks Dept. started to dredge The Lake in Central Park, they found huge fish specimens that have flourished unnoticed in the waters for years. Like the apocryphall tales of unseen alligators growing to enormous lengths in the sewers, dredgers found koi that were three feet long and weighing up to 30 pounds in the lake. Dredgers also dug up 50 lb. turtles and freshwater clams. Who knew?

The lake is the last body of water to be overhauled in a $25 million project funded by the Central Park Conservancy. The project's goal is to remove tons of sediments from the lakes, coves, and streams in the park. One thing mentioned in the Post's article is that a "tiny island that's sat unnoticed for years in the middle of The Lake will emerge once again" - cool! And that reminds us of how Manhattan is very watery.

(NYC - Central Park: The Lake (panoramic), by wallyg at flickr)

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By Dave Hogarty in News on August 9, 2007 1:14 PM

Comments [rss]

jillann

I took this picture using my zoom lens while standing on the bridge over looking the CP Lake. You can clearly see the giant koi fish!

http://www.flickr.com/photos/jillannsiegel/2522609361/

guest

That's standard practice re waivers. I used to work for a wedding magazine, and even though there were similar signs at the venues and warnings in the actual wedding invitations (by attending you are agreeing that your image may be blah blah blah...) they still preferred to get specific waivers for anyone recognizable in a photo they ended up using.

guest

#10 okay, i thought that you were talking about a *clear* complexion. Maybe the word "visible" would have been a better choice.

Alex

They should truck in some alligators for the summer just to make things interesting.

Reality Czech

Manhattan IS flooded every few months, well at least the subway system is.

ed_Extinct

no word in the central park sea monster Centy?

upperwestsidegirl

I called them and they said the animals were moved to other bodies of water in the park. So they were not killed.

guest

"my face was so clear..."

There were signs posted "by entering this area you are agreeing..." A woman later on came up to me and said that they could see me clear enough in the background that they felt they had to get me to sign a specific waiver. Who knows. At first I thought it was part of the show. Did they have to have me sign anything, couldn't tell you, but that's what happened.

guest

#7 - Proactive?

guest

#7 "my face was so clear that they had me sign a waiver"

????

guest

Central Park has some very good fishing. I have fished there and I know people who have caught some nice size Largemouth Bass in the lake. Actually once when I was fishing they were filming some reality show and my face was so clear that they had me sign a waiver. They wouldn't tell me which show it was, I only remember there was a rowboat race in the lake. Let's hope that afterwards it will be an even better fishery.

guest

Soon, we're going to find out that Betty White has been feeding them tourists to make them grow...

SP

I remember sitting at the boathouse café, and seeing HUGE turtles and fish swim up to be fed. Made me think, damn, that's the good life, prime real estate, living by a fancy restaurant getting free food. Poor little guys, I hope they weren't harmed in the dredging process.

MT

I want to know too. Did they let the koi go when they found them?

guest

Apocryphal is the correct spelling.

Not a hassle, just thought you'd like to know.

guest

I used to have Koi's in my tank . There a bad fish to own in a controlled environment . They do grow to about [6]ft. ! (If they get enough of the right foods and the environment is inducive to there likings) Posted by; "Still Not Amused"