Crazy catch at Lk Hopatcong

[TD]

Decent ice fishing year...been going every weekend since mid January. Mostly perch, sunnies, and some nice pickerel. Today was a first for me. Monster carp through the ice. A new tip up that has not caught any fish this year produced a gem. 3pm, I see my tip up rock. I thought it was the wind. It did it again...I walked over and bam flag up and spinning. I set the hook and this thing is tearing line. It was running so fast the line cut my fingers. I bring it to the hole, and I see it is a huge carp. I have a 5 inch diameter hole. Not coming through. I fight it for 10 minutes. Never thought I would land this guy, I only had 6 pound test leader. No way I was going to touch that mono. Another ice fisherman and his son saw me struggling. They brought their auger over and cut a 7 inch diameter hole butting up to mine. I was finally able to get it up and through the ice. Thank Jack and his son Jack for the assist. I did not have a tape measure...not sure how big it was, but it was a tank. Cannot believe it hit a shiner. On a side note, I caught 4 perch and 1 sunny.