Strange golden fish caught in Connecticut is a rare example of double mutations

A bizarre-looking fish caught recently in southern Connecticut is an unusual case of one marine creature displaying multiple genetic mutations, state officials say.

Connecticut Fish and Wildlife shared a photo of the large fish on Facebook, and credited angler Jimmy Ayala with making “a rare” catch.

The fish resembles a grotesque goldfish, with deformed scales and long, droopy fins. Its color includes variations of tan and gold that get brighter from top to bottom.

“So check out this fish, an awesome display combining two mutations of the common carp,” the state wrote. “Can you name the combo”?

A social media debate quickly erupted over what might have caused the mutations, with some suggesting a common carp mated with either a koi or a catfish. One person even came up with a name: A “Koip.”

Others suggested it was part goldfish, while a few joked that it resembled the fish from Geico ads that spews gold coins.

Ayala hasn’t weighed in on the debate, other than to say it’s “not a koi cross.” The fish weighed 25.08 pounds and Ayala told McClatchy News he caught and later released it in East Haddam. “It definitely put up a great fight. I fish for carp all the time for the adrenaline rush!” he said.

Connecticut wildlife officials told McClatchy News the fish’s odd appearance comes from combining the attributes of the “fantail carp” and the “mirror carp,” which are themselves mutations.

Fantails have long flowing fins, and “mirror carp” have abnormally large scales with irregular patterns, and spots with no scales at all, experts say.

“Not sure how this happens, but it is not commonly ... seen,” state officials said.

Some commenters on Facebook dubbed Ayala’s fish a “fantail mirror carp.”

Ayala says a friend caught the same fish four years ago at the same spot, and it weighed 14 pounds back then. “I’ve been chasing that fish for years,” Ayala said.

Common carp grow to more than 40 pounds in Connecticut. The current state record is 43 pounds, 12 ounces, according to the state’s Department of Energy and Environmental Protection.

This story was originally published June 3, 2021 at 3:30 PM with the headline "Strange golden fish caught in Connecticut is a rare example of double mutations."