Oklahoma fishing guide breaks his own world record with 118-pound bighead carp

An Oklahoma fishing guide has landed another world record, beating the mark he set in 2023.

Bryan Baker, owner of Spoonbill Wreckers Guide Service, caught a 118-pound, 10-ounce bighead carp at Grand Lake, surpassing his 2023 record by seven ounces.

A record two years in the making

Baker first made headlines in 2023 when he set the previous world record for a bighead carp. Now, he’s outdone himself, continuing his work to remove the invasive species from Oklahoma waters.

Over the past few years, Baker has taken 77 bighead carp out of Grand Lake, targeting the species as part of a long-term conservation effort.

Why bighead carp matter

The Oklahoma Department of Wildlife Conservation (ODWC) says bighead carp are an invasive species originally imported from Asia in the 1970s to help manage wastewater facility ponds. Since then, the fish have spread into rivers and lakes across the Midwest, including Oklahoma.

ODWC warns that bighead carp are dangerous to native fish populations because they outcompete them for food and habitat.

The agency encourages anglers who catch a bighead carp not to release it back into the water. Instead, officials ask that the catch be reported to the department to assist with ongoing research and efforts to manage the species.

Protecting Oklahoma waters

Baker’s latest record is not just a personal milestone — it's also a reminder of the broader environmental challenges facing Oklahoma’s lakes and rivers.

For more information on how to report an invasive species, visit the Oklahoma Department of Wildlife Conservation website.