Utah Lake Authority Launches Second Annual 'Great Carp Hunt'

Anglers challenged to remove invasive carp to protect lake's ecosystem

Published on Feb. 14, 2026

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The Utah Lake Authority is once again calling on anglers to help remove invasive carp from Utah Lake near Saratoga Springs. The agency is hosting its second annual 'Great Carp Hunt' competition, offering cash prizes to teams and individuals who catch the most carp. The goal is to reduce the carp population, which has been disrupting the lake's ecosystem by muddying the water and destroying native vegetation. The 2026 tournament will feature separate shore fishing and boat fishing categories, with a bounty system that pays $1.50 per fish caught, plus an additional $1.50 contribution from the Utah Lake Authority to the grand prize pool.

Why it matters

Carp are an invasive species in Utah Lake that have caused significant environmental damage, including harming the native June sucker fish population. Reducing the carp numbers is a key priority for the Utah Lake Authority to restore the lake's ecosystem and address issues like harmful algal blooms. The annual carp hunt competition is an important community-driven effort to tackle this persistent problem.

The details

The Utah Lake Authority hosted its inaugural carp hunt competition in 2025, which resulted in around 30,000 pounds of carp being removed from the lake. This year, the agency is taking a different approach with a bounty system that pays $1.50 per fish caught, plus an additional $1.50 contribution to the grand prize pool. The 2026 tournament will be divided into shore fishing and boat fishing categories based on competitor feedback. Exact dates and locations are still being finalized, but the events are tentatively scheduled to occur twice a month between April 11 and June 27. The team or individual who catches the most fish over the entire season will win the prize pot in each category.

  • The Utah Lake Authority hosted its inaugural carp hunt competition in 2025.
  • The 2026 'Great Carp Hunt' tournament is tentatively scheduled to run from April 11 to June 27, with events occurring twice a month.

The players

Utah Lake Authority

The government agency responsible for managing and protecting Utah Lake, which is organizing the 'Great Carp Hunt' competition.

Kelly Cannon-O'Day

Spokesperson for the Utah Lake Authority, who provided details about the 2026 carp hunt tournament.

Michelle Kaufusi

Former Provo Mayor and current chair of the Utah Lake Authority board, who expressed the agency's goal to rid the lake of carp and invasive plants by 2034.

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What they’re saying

“We have been able to kind of help save the June sucker, but a lot more work needs to be done. We don't talk about silver-bullet solutions, but getting our carp numbers down will make other problems a lot easier to kind of start tackling and taking care of.”

— Kelly Cannon-O'Day, Spokesperson, Utah Lake Authority (deseret.com)

“In Utah, we believe nothing is impossible. Carp, we are coming for you, and we won't stop until Utah Lake's waters are clear again.”

— Michelle Kaufusi, Former Provo Mayor, Chair of Utah Lake Authority Board (deseret.com)

What’s next

The Utah Lake Authority is working closely with Utah's congressional delegation to secure additional funding for more aggressive measures to remove large quantities of carp from the lake's ecosystem.

The takeaway

The 'Great Carp Hunt' competition is a community-driven effort to address the persistent problem of invasive carp in Utah Lake. By engaging anglers to remove as many carp as possible, the Utah Lake Authority hopes to protect the lake's ecosystem and native species, while also exploring more ambitious long-term solutions to eradicate the carp population.