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Retired steel worker sets state record with white perch caught at Loch Raven Reservoir

Posted at 12:30 PM, Apr 21, 2017
and last updated 2017-04-21 12:30:52-04

A retired Bethlehem Steel worker from Baltimore set a new state record this month.

George Venker caught a 1.9 pound white perch at Loch Raven Reservoirin Baltimore County on April 7.

Venker, who said he fishes the reservoir on a regular basis, told the Maryland Department of Natural Resources he caught the fish on a bottom rig using a night crawler.

"At first I thought it was a catfish," Venker told DNR. "I'm really proud. I'm going back to see if I can catch an even bigger one."

The previous white perch record of 1.6 pounds was held by James Stiars of Bel Air. He caught his fish last August.

If you think you caught a record breaking fish, call 443-569-1381 or 410-260-8325. DNR recommends keeping the fish immersed in ice water. That will preserve its weight until it can be checked, confirmed and certified.

*Jeff Herman is the assistant news director at WMAR | ABC2 and a member of the Pennsylvania Outdoor Writers Association. His main passion while not at work is fishing. This column is part of a series of columns he writes for our outdoors page . You can read more of his columns here . Follow him on Twitter @JeffABC2News and @TightLinesABC2