Year-long carp hunting competition aims to remove carp from Utah Lake: “We want the carp gone”

PROVO, Utah (ABC4) – Carp are no longer welcome at Utah Lake.

To help remove the fish, Utah is offering a grand prize of $5,000 and several monthly prizes a year-long competition for the big carp hunt.

According to Utah Lake officials, carp have been present in Utah Lake since the 1880s. They were introduced to replace dwindling numbers of native fish and provide a popular foodstuff for locals. However, the carp’s aggressive feeding habits have destroyed the pondweed on the surface and the plant life on the lake floor.

Over the years, various government agencies have worked to remove the carp through seining and semi-automatic trapping. Now teams of up to five anglers can compete for prizes to help remove carp from Utah Lake.

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“We see this as a fun way for people to help remove a non-native species that is having a negative impact on the lake and native fish,” said Luke Peterson, executive director of the Utah Lake Authority. “Since 2009, up to 75 percent of carp have been removed and native species, such as the threatened June sucker, are starting to come back, but we still have a lot of work to do.”

The Great Carp Hunt will reportedly include monthly two-day events, usually held on the last weekend of each month, starting in January and running through November.

Teams will go out during event times and catch as many carp as possible. Each team competes for monthly and annual prizes in categories such as Most Fish Caught, Longest Carp Caught, Heaviest Carp Caught, Smallest Carp Caught, and others.

The year-long competition is open to anglers of all ages, but the entry fee is still being determined. Teams can register online at utahlake.gov/the-great-carp-hunt.

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