CHICAGO (WGN) A Chicago man didn’t have to go far to reel in a big catch and go viral in the process.

Danny Vivar is no stranger to fishing, having previously perfected his craft across several countries, whether in freshwater or by the ocean.

“I got a passion for it. I go crazy for it,” Vivar told WGN-TV. “You put me in some water, I know what’s in there, and I know how to get it. You could put me in a puddle and I’ll come out with something.”

Fishing sharks, sturgeon, mahi-mahi, and bass are just some of Vivar’s best catches, but in his hometown on the night of Saturday, Aug. 23, he faced his biggest challenge. 

“The pole bent real nice. I grabbed it and I knew right away that it was something heavy,” said Vivar, describing the thrill he received on the Chicago River near McClurg Court.

“All the people stopped, started crowding around me, and cheering me on,” Vivar added. “Everybody was excited. It was a rush.”

Vivar’s homemade bait, consisting of oatmeal, grits, breadcrumbs, and sweet corn, helped hook his catch, as the electronic bite alarm signaled the start of an exhausting battle.

“Took about 15-20 minutes of fighting it before I was able to get it out of the water,” Vivar added.

A giant carp, as far as Vivar and others could tell, emerged from the chilly waters of the Chicago River. Crowds witnessed the spectacle and were left in awe by Vivar’s monstrous catch, he said.

“They were excited. They were taking pictures and recording. A lot of people couldn’t believe it,” Vivar revealed. “A lot of people were shocked that there are fish this big inside these waters.”

Such waters have made a tremendous comeback in recent years, as described by Tim Touhy of the non-profit, Friends of the Chicago River.

“In the late 80s, there was a study about how many fish were in the river system and they found less than 10. Today, there’s more than 75 and more native species of fish.”

The 47-year-old Vivar has caught big carp over the years. But without a scale on Saturday night, the 235-pound, 6-foot-tall master fisherman could only offer a guess.

Vivar estimates the catch to be close to 35-40 pounds. At the end of Saturday’s epic struggle, Vivar did what he always does: he released his catch back into the river.

“I’m not in it to eat or keep anything. I throw everything back,” Vivar said. “It’s just an adrenaline rush and peace of mind.”