No Fish Tale: Largemouth Bass 'Hungry' For Plastic At Bergen Reservoir

BERGEN COUNTY, NJ — This is no "fish tale."

A giant green fish at a local reservoir is expected to reel in visitors to teach them about becoming responsible stewards of the environment, according to officials.

Finn, an 11-foot-long largemouth bass constructed from repurposed metals, was just unveiled at the Woodcliff Lake Reservoir to celebrate Earth Month — and to encourage residents to take action to protect the watershed, officials said in a release.

"Healthy watersheds mean healthy communities," said Alan Weland, vice president and general manager of New Jersey operations for Veolia Water, which brought Finn to his new home at the reservoir.

“We wanted to create a space where visitors to Woodcliff Lake could enjoy the scenery while making a difference just by taking a walk,” Weland said.

Finn, a Veolia spokesperson said, is a "playful way" to encourage the community to take action to protect the planet, and serves as a reminder about how harmful plastic is to waterways.

Also known as the Green Gobbler, the sculpture was created by for the purpose of recycling and keeping public areas near the waterway clean. In fact, Finn is hollow so visitors can fill him with plastic debris they pick up, and the gamefish is in an area just off Reservoir Road where cleanups are often held to clear debris.

“When anybody takes a look at one of these sculptures they understand there is a problem with plastic," Finn's creator Jim Swaim said. "It’s undeniable that it is doing damage to wildlife and our environment.”

Weighing 300 pounds and sporting "a hungry look," the gigantic fish sculpture carries an even bigger message about protecting the planet, Veolia spokesperson Debra Vial said.

"Thank you to all involved in making this engaging piece of artwork a reality," Veolia North America said in a social media post. "Next time you're at the reservoir, keep an eye out for any debris, and give Finn a snack to eat."