2026 Great Carp Hunt (Utah Lake): Dates, Locations, Rules, and a Simple Gear Checklist

2026 Great Carp Hunt (Utah Lake): Ultimate Guide

The Great Carp Hunt is a community fishing tournament at Utah Lake designed to remove invasive carp. If you’re planning to fish it (shore or boat), this page is meant to be the one tab you keep open: dates + locations, what to bring, and what usually works.

Official links (always confirm final rules here):

Eventbrite registration: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/2026-great-carp-hunt-tickets-1982218514938?aff=oddtdtcreator
Utah Lake Authority overview: https://utahlake.gov/the-great-carp-hunt/

This site is not the event organizer. Dates/rules can change.

Quick facts (2026)

Format: 6 Saturday tournaments (April–June)
Teams: Up to 5 people
Cost: $45 per person (covers the full season); kids 11 and under free (per organizer)
License: Utah fishing license required for ages 12+
Schedule: Check-in ~7:00am, fishing 8:00am–5:00pm (per organizer)

New in 2026: bounty-style payouts (per organizer)

$3 per carp paid to the team
+$1.50 per carp contributed into a season-ending grand prize pot
Separate categories for shore vs boat

2026 dates + locations (from organizer)

April 11, 2026 — American Fork Marina
April 18, 2026 — Utah Lake State Park (Provo)
May 9, 2026 — Lincoln Beach Marina
May 23, 2026 — American Fork Marina
June 13, 2026 — Lincoln Beach Marina
June 27, 2026 — Utah Lake State Park (Provo)

What to bring (simple checklist)

Essentials

Utah fishing license (12+)
Water, snacks, sunscreen, hat
Pliers / hook remover
Gloves (carp can be rough on hands)

Landing + hauling

Large landing net
Bucket(s) / heavy-duty bags (follow event instructions)

Tackle that works for beginners

Medium-heavy rod/reel
Strong line + leader
Hooks (many anglers prefer circle hooks)
Sinkers + swivels
Bait: corn or dough bait

Basic carp tactics at Utah Lake

Keep it simple: a bottom rig + bait and patience.
Fish carp water: shallow flats warming up, marinas, edges of structure/vegetation.
Plan for volume: bring a net and keep your area organized.

Related pages on UtahStockedFish.com

Sources

https://utahlake.gov/the-great-carp-hunt/
https://www.eventbrite.com/e/2026-great-carp-hunt-tickets-1982218514938?aff=oddtdtcreator