Missouri man catches state record 74-pound grass carp

JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. – A mid-Missouri fisherman caught a 74-pound grass carp last month, setting a new state record.

The Missouri Department of Conservation reports that Frank Reynolds of Linn, Missouri, caught the record fish through bowfishing, which the state recognizes as an “alternative method” to traditional rod-and-reel fishing.

Reynolds was bowfishing from a private pond on Aug. 12 when he brought in a monster 74-pound, 2-ounce grass carp.

MDC says the previous record for grass carp under alternative methods was a 71-pound, 4-ounce carp, which was caught from Lake Showme in 1999.

“I’ve been trying to get this thing for years now,” Reynolds told MDC. “We had four of these fish stocked in 2002 so I’ve been on the hunt for this one for a while, but it’s just been so skittish. It’s hard to get close enough without him getting away or going underwater.”

MDC says the grass carp is the fourth state-record fish recorded for 2024. Reynolds plans to get a replica of the fish mounted.

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