\n<\/p>\n
Polish angler Kacper St\u0119pie\u0144 could be a new world-record-holder for common carp after landing a massive fish from Euro Aqua, a private lake in Hungary and a renowned carp fishery. St\u0119pie\u0144 was fishing there on Sept. 16 when he caught the 104.5-pound common carp, which would easily break the current IGFA all-tackle world record should it be accepted by the organization.<\/p>\n
The potential world-record catch was highlighted in a recent post on Euro-Aqua\u2019s Facebook page<\/a> and on St\u0119pie\u0144\u2019s personal page<\/a>. The Polish fisherman explained in his post that his only goal that trip was to catch his personal-best carp. He\u2019d always imagined catching a world-record common carp at the lake but didn\u2019t think it was likely.<\/p>\n \u201cOf course it was a dream and it is \u2018unimaginable,\u2019\u201d St\u0119pie\u0144 writes in a translated version of his Facebook post. \u201cBecause what are the [odds] of catching the larges cyprinus in the world that no one has ever caught?\u201d<\/p>\n Photo via Facebook<\/p>\n<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n St\u0119pie\u0144 explains in his translated post that cold weather and strong winds made fishing difficult during the first few days. But he and his pals stuck with it and landed more than 100 carp by the week\u2019s end. He called it a \u201csession of [a] life[time]\u201d. A dozen of those fish weighed over 66 pounds, but none surpassed the 104.5-pound common carp he caught and released at Euro Aqua.<\/p>\n St\u0119pie\u0144 caught the fish using a rolled dough ball, also known as a boilie, and the same type of bait ball used to feed fish in the private pay lake.<\/p>\n On paper, his carp easily surpasses the current IGFA all-tackle world record for common carp. That fish weighed 75 pounds 11 ounces, and it was caught in France in 1987 by Leo van der Gugten.<\/p>\n In order for St\u0119pie\u0144\u2019s record to be accepted by the IGFA, however, he\u2019ll have to submit it for record consideration \u2014 a lengthy process that requires a significant amount of paperwork. IGFA judges would then scrutinize every aspect of the catch, from the tackle and scale used to the witnesses who were there that day.<\/p>\n It\u2019s unclear at this point if St\u0119pie\u0144 will submit his fish to the IGFA for record consideration. There are plenty of social media commenters who say the fish can\u2019t be a true record because St\u0119pie\u0144 caught the carp from a private water body. And although the IGFA will consider record entries for fish caught in some private waterbodies, the organization does not accept applications \u201cfor fish caught in hatchery waters, sanctuaries or small bodies of water that are stocked with fish for commercial purposes.\u201d<\/p>\n Read Next:<\/strong> Is This the Biggest \u201cGoldfish\u201d Ever Caught?<\/a><\/p>\n It\u2019s possible that Euro Aqua would fit one of these descriptions. But even so, that possibility doesn\u2019t seem to bother St\u0119pie\u0144.<\/p>\n \u201cI had tears in my eyes when I landed the fish,\u201d the Polish angler told the Angling Times<\/em><\/a>. \u201cIt was huge, and it made my dreams come true. This is a fish I\u2019ve always wanted to catch, and to finally have my moment with it is something I will never forget.\u201d<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n