Thread: Video - KDFWR - Asian Carp in KY and Barkley Lakes - impacts to crappie and bass

Originally Posted by perchjerker108

artcarney, thanks for the link to the prices and other info. My wish is the commercial fisherman can get more than $0.15 per pound. A lot of work for 1,000 lbs of fish for $150. Maybe the State could add at least a $0.05-$0.10 per pound subsidy to the 'Current' price to help us remove these and help the commercial fisherman with their costs for our Lakes/Rivers. These commercial are the best chance right now to help us with the problem.

The state is already chipping in I think $0.10 or $0.12 a pound now - well it might be a combination of the State and KDFWR or it may just be KDFWR solely doing it, I haven't heard exactly where that money is coming from.

I did ask about a weekend warrior program for people (like myself) who might want to do it a little bit on the side to make some extra cash and what license would be needed. Here's what they said:

...if you are a resident of KY and you wanted to net Asian carp you could buy the $150 commercial license and be legal. There is also a free commercial license that KDFWR offers to fishermen who only target and harvest Asian carp. If you use the free license, you still need to purchase gear tags. Gear tags are required on every 100ft of net, so how long your nets are will determine how many gear tags you need (you can purchase more than the first 10 you receive with your license). If you buy the $150 license you can also harvest rough fish including buffalo, common carp, and drum, but not catfish, paddlefish, or sturgeon. However, Asian carp must account for at least 65% of your total catch every month.

Originally Posted by artcarney_agr

The state is already chipping in I think $0.10 or $0.12 a pound now - well it might be a combination of the State and KDFWR or it may just be KDFWR solely doing it, I haven't heard exactly where that money is coming from.

Artcarny, so, if the current price is $0.15/pound, the State or KDFWR is adding $010 or $0.12/ pound to their paycheck above the $0.15 pound current price? Example would be: Current market price is $0.15/pound + $0.10/pound subsidy from State or KDFWR would result in them getting $0.25/pound. If this is the case, this is great!

Originally Posted by perchjerker108

Artcarny, so, if the current price is $0.15/pound, the State or KDFWR is adding $010 or $0.12/ pound to their paycheck above the $0.15 pound current price? Example would be: Current market price is $0.15/pound + $0.10/pound subsidy from State or KDFWR would result in them getting $0.25/pound. If this is the case, this is great!

No. The fish is only worth about $0.03/lb and KDFWR and or the State are chipping in the other $0.12/lb

When they say there is little market for these fish, it's an understatement. A year ago when all a commercial fisherman could get was $0.07/lb it wasn't at all worth the effort....the increased subsidies this year have helped change that some.

Originally Posted by artcarney_agr

No. The fish is only worth about $0.03/lb and KDFWR and or the State are chipping in the other $0.12/lb

When they say there is little market for these fish, it's an understatement. A year ago when all a commercial fisherman could get was $0.07/lb it wasn't at all worth the effort....the increased subsidies this year have helped change that some.

Arcarny, again, thanks for the info. Man, this really upsets me and should upset everyone at this site who wants to help the commercial fisherman to help with this problem. I read so much about how 'good' the fish are to eat and has a good market. But, man at $0.03/0.07pound actual worth(without our help with subsidy), it's cat food or fertilizer per the processor's rated value of worth at $0.03 or $0.07/pound. Just glad the commercial fisherman will attempt to remove these at the subsidized price of $0.15/pound. Still, I think of these commercial fishrman setting out piles of nets, going to each net, pulling/untanglng each fish, hauling in a ton of fish, and then getting $300 for their effort. So, to all the commercial fisherman removing the Carp, I admire you efforts for basically no real pay for your efforts.

Originally Posted by perchjerker108

Arcarny, again, thanks for the info. Man, this really upsets me and should upset everyone at this site who wants to help the commercial fisherman to help with this problem. I read so much about how 'good' the fish are to eat and has a good market. But, man at $0.03/0.07pound actual worth(without our help with subsidy), it's cat food or fertilizer per the processor's rated value of worth at $0.03 or $0.07/pound. Just glad the commercial fisherman will attempt to remove these at the subsidized price of $0.15/pound. Still, I think of these commercial fishrman setting out piles of nets, going to each net, pulling/untanglng each fish, hauling in a ton of fish, and then getting $300 for their effort. So, to all the commercial fisherman removing the Carp, I admire you efforts for basically no real pay for your efforts.

Yes, a HUGE thanks to the guys out there hauling this fish in! Asian Carp smell absolutely awful! Anytime I have one jump in the boat, it takes forever for the smell to finally disappear. Those guys have my respect just in dealing with the smell alone!

Market price has always been about $0.03 / lb

When I said $0.07 /lb last year, that was $0.03 market + $0.04 subsidy from KDFWR

The subsidy amount went up for this year to $0.03 market + $0.12 total subsidy from KDFWR/and or the State

The Asian Carp is only good for fillets or human consumption when extremely fresh, that's why it's important for them to be iced down immediately. This is also why it was so critical for fishermen to have their catch picked up at the ramp at either KY or Barkley Lake, because prior to that service it was VERY difficult to get the fish to Wickliffe before they started quickly degrading, especially in the summer months.

The majority of the edible carp that don't make the cut for fillets are ground into fish paste called surimi. The most common use of surimi is imitation crab meat. Asian Carp give surimi a little bit different/better flavor, and is highly desired overseas. Now when I say highly desired, that doesn't necessarily mean it's a delicacy or fetching a high price because of demand, it's more on par with like a highly desired cheap hotdog or like being the best tasting packet of Ramen Noodles. I enjoy eating surimi, makes for a nice protein snack in my lunch every now and then, but I'm definitely not going to spend a great deal on it or go out of my way to get it. The snack packs of surimi are $1 each at Walmart, sometimes on sale for $0.50 a pack.

As for the rest of the catch, it's mostly turned into fertilizer or any other number of products. I saw something the other day where Asian Carp byproducts were somehow being incorporated into concrete mixes. Lobster and crab fishermen in Canada are apparently looking to start using Asian Carp as bait for traps since they are having a hard time getting herring, those carp will have to be transported alive to the fishermen in order to still be fresh enough for use as bait.

It's really amazing all the things that are happening right now with these Asian Carp.

Originally Posted by artcarney_agr

I did ask about a weekend warrior program for people (like myself) who might want to do it a little bit on the side to make some extra cash and what license would be needed. Here's what they said:

...if you are a resident of KY and you wanted to net Asian carp you could buy the $150 commercial license and be legal. There is also a free commercial license that KDFWR offers to fishermen who only target and harvest Asian carp. If you use the free license, you still need to purchase gear tags. Gear tags are required on every 100ft of net, so how long your nets are will determine how many gear tags you need (you can purchase more than the first 10 you receive with your license). If you buy the $150 license you can also harvest rough fish including buffalo, common carp, and drum, but not catfish, paddlefish, or sturgeon. However, Asian carp must account for at least 65% of your total catch every month.

Lots of great info here. Man, if I come down and donate a day or two every now and then to help you run the nets do I need any special license?


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Originally Posted by GREENFISH

Lots of great info here. Man, if I come down and donate a day or two every now and then to help you run the nets do I need any special license?


Sent from my iPhone using Crappie.com

I'm not really sure how that works for "helpers"

Apparently KDFWR will take you out as a volunteer to see what commercial fishing is like for Asian Carp, I was given this message this morning when I asked about hoop nets and any available training programs:

Currently we do not have a program to train new commercial fishermen, but we welcome volunteers to go out in the field with us to see what it is like. If you are interested in this opportunity give us a call at 270-759-5295. Some fishermen use hoop nets in the rivers, but in the lakes gill nets seem to be the best option.