record carp – Syndication Server

Oklahoma angler lands enormous carp for state’s first record

An Oklahoma angler is the state’s first record holder for bighead carp after landing a 118-pound, 3-ounce carp recently at Grand Lake.

Bryan Baker of Spoonbill Wreckers, a paddlefish guide service, is credited with the capture and removal of a bighead carp that was nearly 30 pounds heavier than the world record, set in Tennessee in 2005.

Baker’s carp was snagged instead of baited so it won’t qualify for an IGFA record. (Snagging is the most effective way to hook paddlefish.)

But his catch sets the bar extremely high as a new state record.

Oklahoma added bighead carp, an invasive species, for record consideration to encourage their capture and removal.

In announcing Baker’s record catch, the Oklahoma Department of Wildlife Conservation explained via Facebook:

“Bighead carp consume large quantities of zooplankton, aquatic insect larvae and adults. Because of their feeding habits, bighead carp are a direct competitor with our native species like paddlefish, and bigmouth buffalo; as well as all larval and juvenile fishes and native mussels.”

The ODWC added: “If you catch this invasive species DO NOT RETURN IT TO THE WATER. Please report any caught bighead carp to our Porter Office at 918-683-1031 or 918-200-4815.”

Catch of record-size carp ‘like pulling the plug out of the river’

An Oklahoma angler hoping to snag a giant paddlefish on Saturday instead hooked and landed a bighead carp that weighed 20 pounds more than the existing world record.

An Oklahoma angler hoping to snag a giant paddlefish on Saturday instead landed a bighead carp that weighed 20 pounds more than the existing world record.

The 110-pound carp was caught by Gabe Brannick during a High Water Guide Service expedition on the Neosho River.

“These fish pack a lot of fight and this one was like pulling the plug out of the river,” High Water Guide Service exclaimed on Facebook.

The International Game Fish Assn. lists as the world record a 90-pound bighead carp caught at Tennessee’s Guntersville Lake in 2005.

Brannick’s carp won’t qualify for a world record because it was snagged instead of baited. (Snagging is the common method for catching paddlefish.)

But Zach Fort, owner of High Water Guide Service, told FTW Outdoors that he’s trying to persuade the Oklahoma Department of Wildlife Conservation to have Brannick’s carp listed as a state record.

Bighead carp, native to eastern China, are an invasive species. At present, they are not included on Oklahoma’s list of fishing records.

However, Elaine A. Gainer, Aquatic Nuisance Species/Fish Kill Coordinator for the ODWC, confirmed to FTW Outdoors that she’s “working with higher-ups to see if I can get the green light to recognize bighead carp in our state records.”

Gainer said her team receives sporadic reports of bighead carp catches at this time of year, mostly from anglers who were targeting paddlefish. (Anglers are asked not to release bighead carp because they compete with and threaten paddlefish and other native species.)

If Oklahoma did recognize bighead carp records, Gainer added, “the 110-pounder from this weekend would absolutely take the cake for the record here in Oklahoma.”

–Top image shows Gabe Brannick posing with his 110-pound bighead carp

Angler lands record carp while fishing for smallmouth bass

An Idaho angler fishing for bass has landed a 46.7-pound grass carp, shattering the state record by seven pounds.

An Idaho angler has landed a 46.7-pound grass carp, shattering the state record by seven pounds.

Cris Endicott of Meridian caught the 50-inch carp Oct. 10 while casting a twin-tail bass jig on the Snake River.

The Idaho Department of Fish and Game announced the new record Monday, stating in a news release that Endicott had been targeting smallmouth bass.

Grass carp eat mostly plants, so the catch was a surprise.

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Grass carp are native to Asia but have been introduced around the world, primarily for weed control and aquaculture purposes.

According to the International Game Fish Assn., the all-tackle world record grass carp stands at 87 pounds, 10 ounces. That fish was caught at the Piasuchnik Dam in Bulgaria in 2009.

–Top image is generic; second image showing Cris Endicott with his record carp is courtesy of the Idaho Department of Fish and Game

Angler lands record carp, shown little respect

An Idaho angler has shattered the state rod-and-reel carp record with the catch Monday of a 34-pound common carp on the Snake River.

An Idaho angler shattered the state rod-and-reel carp record Monday with the catch of a 34-pound common carp on the Snake River.

Henry Charlier’s catch below the C.J. Strike Reservoir beats the previous record, set last December, by nearly four pounds.

While that might be impressive, considering that catching large carp is quite challenging, the response was mostly tepid after the Idaho Fish and Game Department’s announcement on Facebook.

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A sampling of comments:

– Dang… i just got one at 35.6 pounds the other night while sturgeon fishing. I just threw him on the bank for the scavengers.

– If you cook em right they’re delicious. Just kidding.

– Use it as fertilizer.

https://www.facebook.com/IdahoFishGame/posts/10159223903262622

As Idaho Fish and Game pointed out in a news release issued Wednesday, carp fishing, while immensely popular in Europe, has now gained widespread popularity in the United States.

The typical capture method is archery equipment and bow fishermen can selectively target larger fish. (Idaho’s archery record for common carp stands at 67.65 pounds; C.J. Strike Reservoir in 2011.)

But in 2016 the state opened a rod-and-reel category, making it easier for anglers to set records.

Common carp are native to Asia and Europe but now inhabit waters throughout most of the U.S. They’re an invasive species and considered “trash fish” by some anglers.

–Image showing Henry Charlier and his record carp is courtesy of the Idaho Fish and Game Department

Angler shatters carp record while fishing for bass

An Idaho angler went bass fishing Sunday, but ended up landing a record-shattering common carp.

An Idaho angler went fishing for bass Sunday, but ended up landing a record-shattering common carp.

Hanson resident Alex Veenstra caught the 30-pound, 4-ounce “mirror” carp while casting a crankbait on the Snake River above Upper Salmon Dam.

“Went bass fishing but ending up catching this guy,” Veenstra wrote on Instagram.

https://www.instagram.com/p/CJELe-ShzHE/

The Idaho Department of Fish and Game announced the record in a news release issued Wednesday, stating that Veenstra’s catch broke the previous record by 10 pounds.

Mirror carp are a variant of common carp, the IDFG explained, known for their mirror-shaped scales. They’re more common – and more prized – in parts of Europe.

Common carp are fairly widespread globally and can grow to 60-plus pounds under suitable conditions.

The all-tackle world record common carp, according to the International Game Fish Assn., stands at 75 pounds, 11 ounces. That fish was caught in 1987 at Lac de St. Cassien, France.

The IGFA does not keep records specific to mirror carp.

–Images showing Alex Veenstra with his record carp are courtesy of the Idaho Department of Fish and Game