(NEXSTAR) — You may not be getting an extra paycheck in August, but you could earn a little dough if you’re handy with a rod and reel.
In multiple states, anglers can earn money for catching certain types of fish, with rewards varying from a few dollars to substantial six-figure amounts, based on the specific fish species and the quantity caught.
In states along the Mississippi River and its tributaries, bounties have been placed on black carp.
The U.S. Department of Agriculture notes that black carp, along with bighead, grass, and silver carp, were initially introduced to the U.S. from overseas for aquaculture purposes. These invasive types of carp are ‘rapid breeders and voracious eaters,’ often overwhelming native species and causing environmental harm.
To address this issue, the Invasive Carp Regional Coordinating Committee, under the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, has implemented a reward system for black carp caught in the Mississippi River basin and nearby regions. Initially limited to Illinois and its neighboring states, this program now extends to a broader range of locations.
It’s all part of the “Keep, Cool, Call” initiative.
Supported by the Illinois Department of Natural Resources, the initiative offers a $100 reward per qualifying black carp, with individual anglers eligible to receive up to $1,000 monthly. Eligibility requires that the carp be caught in areas like the Mississippi River or its tributaries across states including Alabama, Arkansas, Colorado, Georgia, and many more.
If you believe you’ve caught a black carp in the specified waters, wildlife authorities recommend that you retain the fish; document the capture site and describe its environment; take head, mouth, and length photos, and detail the equipment and bait used. The fish must be humanely euthanized and kept chilled or frozen, as it’s illegal to possess a live carp. After gathering all necessary information and properly storing the fish, you should contact local officials to report your catch.
While not affiliated with the carp bounty, Utah is pursuing a similar carp removal initiative at Utah Lake. The Great Carp Hunt contest continues throughout November, allowing teams of up to five participants to engage in monthly two-day events to capture as many carp as possible, according to Nexstar’s KTVX.
For every carp caught, teams earn entries into a monthly raffle of $1,000 cash. The hunt’s rules also stipulate that the team that removes the most carp from Utah Lake each month will win equipment or gear. The team that catches the most carp throughout the entirety of the hunt receives a $10,000 cash prize.
Based on the latest tally, roughly 3,500 carp have been caught as part of the hunt this year.
In nearby Idaho, Oregon, and Washington, anglers have received thousands of dollars in reward payments for catching one native fish species said to be harming another.
Officials launched the Northern Pikeminnow Sport-Reward Program in 1990 to knock down the population of the fish, which are known to eat millions of young salmon and steelhead before they’re able to make it out to sea.
The Pacific States Marine Fisheries Commission, which administers the program, says the overall goal is to cull the larger, older Northern Pikeminnow from the Columbia and Snake Rivers. Each Northern Pikeminnow that measures at least nine inches in length could be worth $6 to $10, depending on when it is caught during the five-month season. Fish found to have tags previously implanted in young salmon could be worth $200 or $500 a piece, depending on the specific tag.
In 2024 alone, one angler made over $164,000, according to officials. Among the top 20 anglers, the average number of fish caught was 4,677, totaling about $47,286 in reward payments per participant. Additional details can be found on the program’s website.
Anglers in Idaho are also able to cash in on incentive programs for lake trout and walleye caught in Lake Pend Oreille and its tributaries and rainbow trout caught in the South Fork of the Snake River.
Regardless of whether your invasive catch can be exchanged for cash, you should confirm with local wildlife officials whether you need to report it. They’ll likely also have tips on what to do with the fish, which, in most cases, should not be returned to the water.
