I.D. needed on this pond denizen

[DebinSC]

Spotted this in Big Pond this morning. Took lots of shots, but it was like trying to get the definitive photo of the Loch Ness Monster.
Anyway, the owner of the farm says there are Bass and Eels in the pond.
After looking at photos of freshwater eels AND bass, DH is sure it's an eel but I'm still waffling.
It seemed to be about 4 feet long.

It's really not that big a deal, since now I know it's not an alligator that could eat the little goslings. :) But curiosity is killing me, as they say.
These are the three best shots..

[DebinSC]

[ricks rants]

Without knowing your location I would find it hard to say.

But a beaver or otter? do you have otters? Else I would also say an eel of some type, but I am glad it isn't in my pond.

[DebinSC]

Sorry! Didn't think to say! I'm in the southeastern U.S. and it's a freshwater pond. :)

[GTO]

liooks like it has scales and more than likely a large carp

[Andy P]

I agree, Carp.

[GTO]

or Loch Ness monster...;)

[DebinSC]

Well, the Big Pond monster. ;>

[DebinSC]

Is a carp similar to a bass? (Boy, talk about dumb questions.)

[sjasis]

I can't really tell from the photos, but Carp may be a distinct possibility as in Common Carp. The Carp is predominately a bottom feeder but can often be seen cruising just below the surface of the water picking at fallen insects. They can get really big, thus the "Pond Monster" image, but I don't think they are related to Bass.

[DebinSC]

I looked up Carp and the look of the scales is much closer to what I saw than to Bass. Perhaps the man has Carp in his pond and doesn't know it. I saw they are often considered a nuisance fish.... and can get to 600 lbs!!

[sjasis]

yes, I also read that they can be invasive, and can mess up the aquatic ecosystem of a pond or lake.

[DebinSC]

Looks like it's a Grass Carp, the smaller, but longer and thinner version of the two commonly found in the Carolinas. Perhaps the farmer put them in to control vegetation overgrowth. No idea. Anyway - I consider this mystery solved!
Thank you everyone!