Angler breaks his own record with massive invasive species catch
Share this @internewscast.com

OKLAHOMA CITY (KFOR) – Setting a record is great, but breaking your own record may be even sweeter. That’s what one angler in Oklahoma achieved over the weekend.

The record-breaking catch, an invasive bighead carp weighing over 118 pounds, was reeled in by Bryan Baker on Grand Lake O’ the Cherokees in northeastern Oklahoma, according to the Oklahoma Department of Wildlife Conservation (ODWC).

The agency shared a photo of Baker’s latest catch on social media with a notable nugget of trivia: This isn’t Baker’s first record-setting catch.

Bryan Baker caught a Bighead carp weighing 118 pounds, 10 ounces. (Image courtesy Oklahoma Department of Wildlife Conservation)

In 2023, Baker set the state record for a bighead carp catch. That one also weighed 118 pounds, just 10 ounces lighter than the carp he snagged Saturday.

Despite breaking his own record, Baker’s latest bighead carp is still a few pounds shy of the world record. A carp caught in Missouri four years ago, weighing in at 125 pounds, 5 ounces, currently holds that title.

Bighead carp are invasive, disrupting ecosystems by competing with native fish for food and habitat, says ODWC officials.

The carp is native to eastern Asia, according to the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. While the fish is usually around 40 pounds, they have been known to exceed 100 pounds and measure nearly 5 feet in length.

Originally brought to the U.S. to help keep retention ponds at aquaculture and wastewater treatment facilities clean and for human consumption, the bighead carp soon found themselves on the lam in riverways.

They have since established populations in Alabama, Arkansas, Iowa, Illinois, Indiana, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Minnesota, Mississippi, Missouri, Nebraska, Ohio, Oklahoma, South Dakota, Tennessee, West Virginia, and Wisconsin. The FWS said the invasive fish have also been reported or stocked in Arizona, California, Colorado, Florida, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Texas, and Virginia.

It is illegal to import or transport the carp, eggs, or hybrids of the species across state lines without proper permitting.

Officials say if you catch a bighead carp, do not return it to the water.

Share this @internewscast.com
You May Also Like

New Law Targets $207 Million Medicaid Payments Made to Deceased Individuals

WASHINGTON – A recent report from the Department of Health and Human…

Former Sheriff to Testify in Letcher County Inmate Exploitation Case

A former sheriff, implicated in the shooting death of a judge from…

Democratic States Unite: Legal Battle Against White House Over Consumer Protection Funding Escalates

NEW YORK – A group of 21 Democratic state attorneys general launched…

Asian Markets Surge Following U.S. Stock Rally in Holiday-Shortened Week

Asian markets largely advanced on Tuesday, buoyed by gains on Wall Street…

Colorado Risks Losing $24M in Federal Funds Due to Unlawful CDL Practices

DENVER – The U.S. Department of Transportation’s chief issued a stern warning…

New Scholarship Honors Tusculum Alumna, Aiding First-Gen Students with Military Backgrounds

Tusculum University in Greeneville, Tennessee, has introduced an exciting new scholarship opportunity…

Lawmakers Demand Answers from DOJ on Epstein Document Disclosure

In a rare display of bipartisan unity, lawmakers from both the Democratic…

US Reverses Deportation of Chinese Whistleblower Exposing Xinjiang Human Rights Violations, Activists Confirm

WASHINGTON – In a recent development, the Department of Homeland Security has…

Mexican Navy Medical Plane Experiences Communication Loss Before Texas Crash

For about a ten-minute span, air traffic controllers lost contact with a…

Tri-Cities Residents Eye Record-Breaking $1.6 Billion Powerball Jackpot: Will Luck Strike Here?

In Johnson City, Tennessee, residents are eagerly snapping up Powerball tickets as…

Inside the Capitol Chaos: Police Officers Share Harrowing Accounts of January 6 Assault

WASHINGTON – EDITOR’S NOTE — We are pleased to present an exclusive…

Unraveling Atmospheric Rivers: The Weather Phenomenon Behind Intense Storms

Atmospheric rivers are powerful streams of moisture that traverse the sky, bringing…