In several states, anglers can earn rewards for catching certain species of fish, with payouts ranging from a few dollars to six-figures. Invasive carp, such as black carp, are fast-growing and prolific feeders that outcompete native fish and leave a trail of environmental destruction. The Invasive Carp Regional Coordinating Committee, part of the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, has been offering a bounty on black carp caught in the Mississippi River basin and surrounding areas. The bounty, originally for carp caught in Illinois and neighboring states, was recently expanded to additional regions.
Utah has launched a similar effort to remove carp from its Utah Lake, the Great Carp Hunt contest, which runs through November. Teams of up to five anglers earn entries into a monthly raffle of $1,000 cash and the team that removes the most carp from Utah Lake each month will win equipment or gear. The team that catches the most carp throughout the entire hunt receives a $10,000 cash prize.
In Idaho, Oregon, and Washington, anglers have received thousands of dollars in reward payments for catching one native fish species said to be harming another. The Northern Pikeminnow Sport-Reward Program, launched in 1990, aims to cull the larger, older Northern Pikeminnow from the Columbia and Snake Rivers. In 2024 alone, one angler made over $164,000, with an average number of fish caught being 4,677.
