George Chance, a 78-year-old angler from Festus, Missouri, made history with his record-breaking catch of a 97-pound bighead carp using a crankbait.
Chance is known for his frugal fishing methods, often retrieving lures from trees overhanging the water instead of purchasing new ones.
On March 19, 2024, Chance caught the massive carp using a Big O crankbait he found hanging from a tree.
The catch took place in a slough off the Mississippi River in eastern Missouri.
The carp put up a significant fight, stripping off 30 yards of line and battling for nearly 20 minutes before Chance managed to bring it to the bank.
Without a net large enough to land the fish and no one around to assist, Chance used an antique hay hook to drag the fish out of the water and into his truck.
The fish was weighed at a nearby recycling plant on certified scales, with a conservation agent and a fisheries biologist from the Missouri Department of Conservation verifying the catch.
The catch was recognized as a Missouri state record and is pending verification by the International Game Fish Association (IGFA) for a world record.
Instead of mounting the fish, Chance used it as fertilizer for his vegetable garden.
He continues to fish and look for more lures in trees.
Bighead carp are an invasive species in many parts of the United States, including the Mississippi River basin.
They are known for their large size and rapid growth.
These fish are filter feeders, primarily consuming plankton, which can disrupt local ecosystems by outcompeting native species for food.
Crankbaits are a popular type of fishing lure designed to mimic the movement of small fish.
They are often used to catch a variety of fish species, including bass and, as demonstrated by Chance, even large carp.
The International Game Fish Association (IGFA) maintains world records for various fish species caught using different methods.
Verification involves testing the line and ensuring the catch meets specific criteria.
George Chance’s record-breaking catch of a 97-pound bighead carp is a testament to his skill, ingenuity, and dedication to the sport of fishing.
His story serves as an inspiration to anglers everywhere, reminding us of the joy and fulfillment that fishing can bring.
