Missouri State Record Common Carp: 50 lb 6 oz
The Missouri state record common carp weighed 50 lb 6 oz. It was caught in 1996 from Rothwell Park Lake by Russell Tarr, and the Missouri Department of Conservation still recognizes it as the state mark 30 years later.
Where the record came from
The record came from Rothwell Park Lake. We don't carry a water-quality grade for it: our index covers standing lakes with enough EPA Water Quality Portal samples to score, which leaves out rivers and tributaries, Great Lakes water, and smaller ponds that are rarely sampled. Browse the Missouri lakes we do grade instead.
Common Carp records by state
Missouri ranks 2 of 3 among the states in our index for record common carp. Michigan holds the heaviest at 61 lb 8 oz, set in 1974.
| # | State | Weight | Year | Water |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Michigan | 61 lb 8 oz | 1974 | Wolf Lake |
| 2 | Missouri (this page) | 50 lb 6 oz | 1996 | Rothwell Park Lake |
| 3 | Indiana | 43 lb 4 oz | 1989 | Pike Lake |
Each figure comes from that state's own fisheries agency. Agencies differ on what they certify — some recognize catch-and-release length records alongside weight — so treat this as a comparison of standing certified weights, not a single national list.
How it ranks inside Missouri
4 of Missouri's 20 standing records are heavier than the 50 lb 6 oz common carp — unsurprising, since record weight tracks species size more than anything about the water. 10 Missouri records have stood longer, the common carp mark dating to 1996.