Iowa Angler Catches 71-Pound World Record Carp in City Pond

Jacob Mackey spent years fishing the same small reservoir in Sioux City, Iowa, never imagining it held a world record waiting to happen.

The 26-year-old local angler had targeted various species at Bacon Creek Park all his life. But everything changed during a bass fishing trip in 2024 when he spotted massive grass carp from his boat that looked almost unreal.

"They started stocking grass carp in the lake in the 1970s but quit in 2011," Mackey explains. "There aren't as many carp in the lake as there once was, but the fish still there have grown huge."

That sighting sparked an obsession. Mackey dove deep into research, teaching himself European carp fishing techniques since the sport isn't popular in America.

His homework paid off on August 10th. After sitting on his favorite shoreline since 8 a.m., Mackey got a strike around noon using soft plastic corn and a homemade chum mixture of breadcrumbs, oats, corn, and nuts.

The battle lasted 15 minutes. Using heavy-duty gear with 30-pound braided line, Mackey fought the massive fish through weeds and low water, finally netting it despite his net breaking from the weight.

The fish measured 48 inches long with a 34-inch girth. When Mackey placed it on his certified scale, the numbers stopped at 71.8 pounds.

After carefully photographing and measuring his catch, Mackey released the giant carp back into the reservoir and watched it swim away healthy. He then submitted his documentation to the International Game Fish Association, which verified everything and certified a new world record in the 30-pound line class division.

Mackey's fish crushed the previous record of 55 pounds set in Japan in 2019. It now ranks as the third largest grass carp of any category in IGFA history, trailing only an 87-pound monster caught in Bulgaria.

Why This Inspires

Mackey's story proves that extraordinary achievements can happen in ordinary places. A neighborhood pond created in the 1960s held a world record for someone willing to learn, practice, and persevere.

His passion for an underappreciated sport shows how dedication transforms hobbies into accomplishments. By studying techniques from across the ocean and applying them to his local waters, Mackey turned what many dismiss as rough fish into a trophy of a lifetime.

He hopes more Americans will discover what European anglers have known for years: carp offer world-class fishing without needing an ocean. "We don't see the same size of fish as those that live in the ocean," Mackey says. "But grass carp are so big, they're not easy to catch, and they fight like those giant fish do in the ocean."

Sometimes the biggest opportunities are right in your own backyard.