Utah Lake Carp Fishing, Tournaments & Removal

Why Utah Lake Has a Carp Problem

Common carp were introduced to Utah Lake by the U.S. Government in the late 1800s. By the early 2000s, carp made up 91% of the total fish biomass in the lake, devastating native species like the endangered June Sucker and degrading water quality through nutrient cycling and algae blooms.

Since 2010, aggressive removal efforts have taken out over 29 million pounds of carp through commercial fishing, tournaments, and bowfishing. Carp density has dropped 78% since 2012, and underwater vegetation is returning for the first time in decades.