New Connecticut State Record Carp: 45lb 8oz of Pure Glory

Caught by Rafal Wlazlo on May 25th, 2025

Sometimes, the line between obsession and dedication is measured in ounces. And on the morning of May 25th, 2025, Rafal Wlazlo proved that every blank, every sleepless night, and every precisely-placed boilie was worth it—with a monumental 45lb 8oz carp that now stands as the new Connecticut State Record.

Caught on PB Mussel 20mm Hard Hookbait, topped with a White Nite Glow Fake Corn—all available at CarpAngler.com—this catch didn’t just break records, it validated two months of strategic baiting, calculated restraint, and a laser focus on a single goal: landing Precious, the name Rafal had since given to the record-setting fish.

Let’s be clear—this spring wasn’t all fireworks and PBs. In fact, it was brutal. Rafal endured nearly a month of blanks, logging day after day, night after night at the same location, with just a handful of fish to show for it. But the plan was never to catch many—it was to catch the one.

Baiting had to be precise. Overfeeding was never an option. The approach was a calculated cocktail of boilies, range cubes, and a heavy dose of Carp Angler GOO, building attraction through scent and cloud, not bulk. The goal was to call her in, not feed her up.

When the moment finally came, it didn’t arrive with fireworks. The 9am bite wasn’t a screamer—it felt more like a confused catfish than a record-breaking carp. The rod tip ticked, the line slowly crept, and Rafal lifted into what he thought was a snag… until the water came alive.

The fight? Nothing short of cinematic. Long. Relentless. Every surge was a test, every swirl a reminder that this might actually be her. And when she finally hit the net, Rafal knew it: Precious was real.

The fish was weighed on one of only two certified angler-owned scales in the state, proof that this wasn’t some casual fling. This record had been targeted, stalked, and earned. And on May 27th, it became official: Connecticut’s new state record carp—45lb 8oz.

This catch isn’t just a win for Rafal. It’s a win for every American angler grinding through the blanks, chasing legends, and believing that yes, the next cast could change everything.

Congratulations, Rafal. And thank you, Precious, for finally coming home.