Thread: How do you Catch Asian Carp (AC)?

Originally Posted by rebranger

Thanks All, I had explored that option, poison, on a limited basis. They electro fish for them in China. I might try that also. However, we have some "paddlefish", or spoon bill cats, that are very valuable & a have some restrictions on them. I caught & released one (34", legal size 35") in a 4" mono gill net So, poisons are out. I am searching for the perfect size net & methods of deploying. Driving or "whooping" is also illegal. However, special exceptions are made by the Game & Fish Dept.
My experimental flag net did not work to well. I'll have to weight the bottom next time. I did not leave it out for very long, only 4 hours, mid-day; water temp 55 degrees & 15 mph wind, in a "choke point" or transition channel from deeper (15 ft.) water to shallow flats (5 ft).
Still tryin!

What ever happened with this? I'm curious to know how it turned out for you and what finally worked? Post back please

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Not sure if it was worth the payoff! Spent a lotta money & time, caught 30,000 plus pounds. BUT, because of the price & distance 100 miles, 200 round trip, hardly paid for the fuel!! The price paid ($0.15 per pound) has to be higher (double or triple) before there will ever be a commercial interest in performing this nasty, back breaking work.

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We did learn how to catch them though. Best ( use around here) for the AC is to feed them to pigs.

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We figured out the most economical & minimum labor methods. In order for the harvesting to ever have ANY kind of noticable effect, it would take a large amount of money, people, boats, nets & processing plants in a multi-year program to even make a dent in the population. The States or Federal Govt. would have to be involved contributing money, education, training programs, equipment, relaxing of regulations, etc. One can imagine how long that would take (not in my lifetime). Simplest & easiest thing to do is to SUBSIDIZE the price. KY has begun/attempting to get a pretty good program together.
I worked for 30 years on the Boll Weevil Eradication program. That took 50 years to accomplish & billions of dollars. The screw worm program was the fore runner.

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They, the AC, can be eliminated or reduced. Whether by biological means (virus, disease, etc.) &/or harvesting, it can be done. AC are very smart learners & adapt quickly. They learn to avoid nets & have adapted their usual spawning feeding patterns.
Some years they are more prolific & some years less. They key to the Boll Weevil Eradication Program (BWEP) was the discovery of DIAPAUSE by the Miss. Boll Weevil Lab. This allowed us to hit 'em when they were the most vulnerable. With enough research & country boy savy, I'm certain that there is a similar vulnerability in Asian Carp.

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On my private lakes, our most efficient harvesting method was using a combination of nets, arranged in a staggered or "L" or "V" pattern along with electroshocking them.
We used electrified dip nets, like they do in China with the small Chinese manufactured 12 & 24 volt powered units with variable frequency & intensity. We would "drive the carp into the nets, get them corraled, & dip them up with the large, heavy electrified dip nets. Some would be caught in the nets, and many would be "dipped" up. This method would require 2 boats & 4 men. AND, it would only work once or twice. They learn how to avoid. We had out 1500 ft long, 4 inch gill nets. It takes two men just to pick up & load that long a net!. It takes about 4 - 6 hours to take the fish out the net. The nets are good for about 4 - 5 uses & then they are torn up so bad, you might as well get a new one. The AC will avoid a heavier built, more durable net. The light weight Chinese made nets are like trying to untangle a spider web! They are good for one or maybe 2 uses, but they work!

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Once the Chinese processor was allowed to bring over Chinese fishermen (on a work visa), we harvested many , many thousands of pounds of Carp. BUT, due to the drowning of 2 of them, OSHA got on them & they shut the operation down. And we were making progress!!. So, now, we're back to Square One.
I don't think the processor ever turned a profit & probably lost a couple of million in the process. The State of Mississippi put some money (loans) into the operation as well.
The Government has to make a long term monetary & regulatory commitment PERIOD for any kind of program to succeed. Hopefully, Kentucky's program will come to fruition & be a model for expansion.
Asian Carp will eventually infest all our Lakes & Stream. The longer we allow them to expand & multiply, the more expensive reduction or eradication.
If every fisherman was required to run a net every time they fished, we would either eliminate sport fishing or the Carp!

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