What do people do with carp?  I know most of them just release.

   What about these bowfisherman shooting carp?  What do you usually do with the carp you kill?

   I do bowfish and I have never cooked up a carp or would know how too?  What I do with the fish is cut it up can save the meet for trapping in the fall and winter.  They do well coon bait.

Hello, Easton, how are things going for you?.

 

If we're talking about bighead or one of the other invasive Asian carp, feed them to stray cats, fertilize a garden... I don't care if you throw them into a dumpster after you get them.  Just don't put them back in the water... ever... not even a dead carcass.  They're an invasive species mucking up the indigenous fish populations, & endangering our fellow anglers because they jump out of water when boats approach.  So, when you get one, lose it somewhere on dry land.

 

Common carp is a different story.  Although they've also been imported, they were more-or-less invited... they were officially invited into this country, & have now set down roots, so I consider them a resident population.

 

If it's legal to release common carp, I release them... but never in other waters, always right where I catch them.  I just don't like the flavor of the flesh.  I love catching them because they fight like a bouncer in a dance club on a Saturday night, but I don't eat them.  I've tried it prepared every way you can think of, too.  But they are a lot of fun to catch... at least, on hook & line (I don't bowfish).  So, I just let them go when it's legal to do so.

 

If it's not legal to release the common carp, I try to avoid catching them.  I use baits they won't (or are unlikely to) hit, & will even change spots if I see them swimming around.  If I catch one accidentally, it is my opinion & belief that it may accidentally slip out of my hands and accidentally fall back into the water once the hook is out.

 

I have heard about some guys using common carp for cutbait, though, for early spring pike and for catfish, & they say it works.  I do know a person or two that eats them (some people love eating common carp), & will give those guys a meal as well.  Also, when my mother was still alive, she used to ask me for one or two to fertilize her flower bed.  Those flowers grew like weeds, too!  But you have to bury the carcasses deep, or wild animals (& loose domestic ones) will dig the things up.  My mother's solution also only takes care of one or two fish a year.  So, unless you want to use common carp for cutbait, keep using it in your coon traps, develop a taste for their unique flavor, or know some people who love eating common carp & want to donate a meal or two to them, I'd encourage you to stop using a bow-and-arrow for common carp.  Break out the tackle & a can of kernel corn, & have a ball catching them.  They're a lot of fun on rod & reel, and small hook holes heal over... big arrow holes will ruin a carp's day.

 

  I do, however, whole-heartedly encourage you to use bow-and-arrow, fire-arms (where legal) or dynamite (where legal) for the Asian strains of carp, & pull as many as you'd like out of our ecosystems.

 

If I'm not fishing, I'm thinking about it. Keep the line fresh, the hooks sharp, and have fun fishing. God bless you. -Sonny, Life Member since 2002

buffallo carp are garbage fish.they breed like rabbits, overpopulate lakes,rivers & stream, eat gamefish eggs, erode sand bottoms & cost us alot of $$  to restock gamefish fry. a genetic specific virus should be designed to eradicate or sterilize this species.
FISHFEARME

I almost cried when i saw the muskie in your hands all screwed up w/ dirt on it like that. hope ya ate it? Tases like fancyfeast catfood huh?Id of gave you $20.00 to let her go to reach 50".
FISHFEARME

I know a lot of people actually smoke or pickle them.  Its not really appealing to me but they do it.  Even though they may not be good for anything else, they are fun to catch.  Pound for pound, one of the best fighting fish.  
Bo is back, Go Big Red!!!

I went out today with some cornmeal mixture a friend made me. I was using an old rod I use to use for catfish ( A 6' 6" medium w/ 12 pound test and I think a no. 4 baitholder hook) I tried for hours to get these fish to take the bait.  Is there any tips anyone can give on how to hook a Carp? Can I use light tackle?  I think a couple of times the carp may have taken the bait, but I didn't feel much through the rod I was using.  What size Hook do you Recommend?  Do you spread some of the bait in the area first? I was fishing of a kayak, so I was looking for a ride, but I missed the "Bus"

Dan "Stealthfisher" Doc NAFC LIFE MEMBER I FISH, THEREFORE I AM<*{{>>< SPARE THE ROD, SPOIL THE FISH! <*(((>>>< ><<<)))*>

Stealth, I would reccomend using a size 10 or smaller hook, carp have very soft mouths, almost like a sucker fish and they will almost always hook themself in the lip while using a small hook. I have caught many carp on light spinning tackle with 6 to 12 pound test line. I caught a few from my boat this past weekend but I would suggest docking the boat and shore-fishing. I find this much more effective. Make a long cast, reel in the slack line, prop your line on a rod holder (that will hold your rod in place if a bug one takes it) and wait. You will know when a carp is on becuase your rod will shoot straight down and stay down.

Thanks Cresson.  I went out Thursday and used a size 12 hook.  Still no luck though.  I'll get the hang of it yet.   I'm going to get out next Thursday with a good friend who has been catching Carp for years. I'm sure he'll point me in the right direction as far as the Carp Go.  I'll let you know how I do.
Dan "Stealthfisher" Doc NAFC LIFE MEMBER I FISH, THEREFORE I AM<*{{>>< SPARE THE ROD, SPOIL THE FISH! <*(((>>>< ><<<)))*>

My granddaughter and I were fishing on the bank of the Wildcat Creek in Indiana two days ago. We didn't have any luck but a new friend up the bank got something on that took him 20 minutes to land. My oh my what a lunker carp we got to see!!! It is definately the largest one I have seen in person and my poor granddaughter was so taken that she will talk about that one for a long time. Our new friend let it go but the lunker carp broke his line too. Bye fishy.

My daughters & I practice CPR, we figure if  we had a blast catching a carp, someone else might too.  I figure I'll never catch a 30 lb carp if I don't release the 20 pounders.   Last summer we used pink stand up jig with a nightcrawler,  this year we are hoping to try some boilies on hair rigs.    Jason

I release all that I catch.

I just started to learn about carp fishing this fall.

I use a hair rig, and have had Great success with it.

Corn, flavored corn, boilies, and grass.

Nice hook-ups right in the corner of the mouth.

This is a Grass in the avatar, I could not believe the power of this fish!

She was knocking me around like crazy.

I use cautation when catching any species of fish, I use a landing net

made for carp, and place them on a matt to keep them safe.

We put meds on the hook area and send them on thier way.

Can't wait for spring to really test the waters.

 

Tight lines All.

One crazy chick, that Loves to fish. You can take what you want from life......As long as you give a little Back. LIFE MEMBER since 11/2005

I'm not to big on carp and i can't seem to give them away though I fish with a few friends regularly and we haul in 4 a night. It sounds mean but we leave them on the bank. I can't find any one who will eat them so we pull them and let the more delectable breeds have the resources.

a lot of people smoke carp, its ok. they are so much fun to catch it really does,t matter what you do with them.

First, I don't like referring to any fish species as "Trashfish". There are the ones who are invasive, and they need to be harvested and disposed off properly. It churns my guts when I read replies that state that a "sportsman" leaves fish, no matter which, rotting at the bank. By definition, that behavior is not that of a true sportsman and one of who loves to fish.

 

Carp has been a reveered game fish in many countries. There are many European countries and people who treat Carp the same way people here in the U.S. treat Catfish, Bass, and many other species of game fish. England has lifted Carp fishing on the pedestal of great game fish to go after, with much of specialized gear. They are great fighters and even better to eat. One just need to know how to prepare them. They are full of small bones, but the meat is just delicious.

 

Here is one easy way to prepare them, Y'all can find more and perhaps better recepies on-line.

 

-Gut and scale the Carp

-Bring salt water to a boil and place the fish inside

-The meat will fall off when done

-Clean the meat from the bones as good as possible, it is almost impossible to get them all

-Mix the meat with some flour, and egg, bread crums, salt, pepper, and chopped onion

-Form patties, like a hamburger, and pan fry in butter

-Enjoy with potatoes

 

Again, this is one way to prepare Carp. Those patties are also great when cold.

 

My favorite bait are oatmeal balls. They worked great for me back in Germany. Just mix oatmeal with some water and vanilla (for added flavor). The paste should be nice and sticky. Shape balls no larger then 1" in diameter. Let them air dry. Use a treble hook and medium heavy tackle, with no less then 12# test. I fish them under a float about 2"-3" off the bottom.

 

Have fun and be a sportsman, not a menace! 

Kai; Life Member

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Charlie hall Memorial Classic info and Updates | Just Goin Fishin' Website and Forum

Kai; Life Member

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Charlie hall Memorial Classic info and Updates | Just Goin Fishin' Website and Forum

I would highly reccomend if u fish for alligator gar use cut carp on a bobber. Otherwise i'd just release them. Great bait for gator gar.

One of the very best things you can do with a carp is to eat it.    How to cook it is the question.   There are several ways.   One of my favorites is:

Cube it into about 1" cubes.   Coat with Zattarains craw fish seasoning and deep fry.

Another is to grind them up for fish balls.