An angler in Idaho landed big on Sunday after breaking a state record, but not for what he was originally fishing for, on the Snake River. He caught a record carp while bass fishing.
Alex Veenstra, a Hanson, Idaho resident, was out fishing for bass Sunday, December 20. A day like any other turned into a record-shattering cast as Veenstra hooked a monster carp.
Record-Setting Cast
While casting his crankbait on the Snake River located above the Upper Salmon Dam, Veenstra got a bite. The man then battled to reel in the 30-pound, 4-ounce, 36-inch “mirror” carp.
According to the Idaho Department of Fish and Game, the fish officially took the new state record for common carp in a news release on Wednesday. They do not keep a specific record for mirror carp, so this catch lands within the general common carp category. In addition, Veenstra’s monster carp shattered the previous record by more than 10 pounds from September of 2020. It was caught on the Swan Falls Reservoir.
On Instagram, the man showed off his prized fish that he proudly holds with two hands.
“Went bass fishing but ending catching this guy. Caught on a lipless crank throw the lips. Weighed in at 30.73lbs. thanks to @208fisherman_alex for giving him the bear hug. #carp #mirrorcarp #fishing #snakeriver#staterecord #idaho #tightlines🎣”
Mirror Carp
Mirror carp are identified by their mirror-shaped scales. In parts of Europe, the mirror carp is a more common and more prized catch. The fish are not native to Idaho, rather they are an introduced species.
This 30-pounder is nothing compared to how big carp can grow. Common carp are found globally and, when living in the perfect condition, can grow as big as 60-pounds. Although, according to the International Game Fish Association, the all-tackle world record for common carp is a 75-pound, 11-ounce monster. The catch is from a 1987 carp from Lac de St. Cassien, France.
