Mythbusters :: Carp are an Invasive Species

Of all the carp myths this one is the Big Kahuna and is the most difficult to bust partly because there is a kernel of truth to it.  Common carp are, in fact, invasive by definition, but before we condemn the common carp to “Trash” status, let’s understand what invasive means.

An invasive species, in this case a fish species, is one that, “does not originate naturally in a body of water, but is introduced to it.”  The truth is carp were imported into the US in 1831 to be commercially raised as a food fish and why not, carp are the most commercially managed food fish in the world.  What this means is common carp aren’t here by accident, or by some communist plot to destroy American sport fishing, but by design. Unlike the silver carp of “leaping into boats” renown the common carp were intentionally introduced to our lakes.  Unfortunately, they are not easy to prepare due to an intramuscular skeletal system and so didn’t catch on as a food item for Americans.  The fact that they at times feed on bottom is also a detractor, but we, as a society, are able to overlook bottom feeding in a food fish as long as they are easy to prepare for cooking, such as the catfish.

The second part of the invasive definition states, “…and adversely effects the environment or bioregion they inhabit either economically, environmentally, or ecologically. “   This is a pretty damning statement and any fish found to be in this category should be eradicated immediately from our waters, right?

Be careful what you wish for because you’d be surprised which fish carry the “invasive” scarlet letter.

List of Fish on the Top 100 worst invasive species list:

• Common Carp
• Largemouth Bass
• Rainbow Trout
• Tilapia
• Brown Trout

Understanding which fish share the list, it’s not so easy to just wipe them all out.  We are left considering the merits of the fish that would excuse it from the list.  One could argue Largemouth Bass generate millions of dollars of revenue for retailers selling fishing gear.   Did you know angling for Common Carp brings in just as much retail revenue in Europe and it’s gaining steam here in the US?

I think what we’ve learned is that even though common carp are labeled “invasive” they have just as much right to thrive in our waters as their other partners in crime, bass and trout.  You’ll also find that carp are tremendous fighters and offer every bit the sport and fun that bass fishing brings….maybe even more due to the social aspect of carp angling.

Myth Busters :: Carp Are Ugly

I recall a fishing session out at Marine Creek in Fort Worth, Texas where I was setup on the bank near a couple families who were enjoying the water nearby.  An older gentleman strolled over with a curious gaze and a question on his lips.  As he marveled at my gear he asked, “What’cha fishin’ for?”   Of course I proudly replied with, “Common Carp.  I had a friend catch a really pretty one out here.”   This guy looked at me like I was an alien from another planet and I watched as his face contorted into one of pure disgust.

“Carp, man, those things are ug-ly!”  He even shuddered in his skin just in case he hadn’t communicated his revolution clearly enough.

This gentleman’s reaction is actually pretty common among curious anglers.  Most American anglers have a very negative view of carp and allow old generalizations and popular opinion to determine their own opinion, as opposed to making up their own mind regarding what is actually a beautiful species of fish.  When asked what’s so ugly about a carp, the feature people point out the most is the carp’s mouth — it’s most distinguishing feature.

But They Have a Gross Sucker Mouth:

Is the common carp’s mouth as repulsive as you’ve heard?   I always like to joke with folks when they point out how ugly carp are because they have a sucker mouth.  I like to ask, “Is a woman’s mouth ugly?”  Of Texas fish species the common carp has the closest mouth to our own.  If you see some guy walking around with a catfish-like mouth just stop and run the other way as fast as you can.  In “Carp Eat Nasty Stuff” we learned that carp are clean eaters and have an appetite for food items that we humans like.  So that makes two things we have in common.

But They’re Fat:

Yes, they are. They get big too and the bigger they get, the more fun it is to catch them.  A bass fisherman can fish his entire life and never catch a bass of 12 pounds.  A seasoned carp fisherman can catch twice that weight in a weekend.

A Common Carp’s weight isn’t the only thing that makes it special and a joy to catch.  Carp also come in variations that are exceedingly exotic and beautiful.  In a lake near you, you could catch a common, a mirror, a fully scaled mirror, a linear mirror, a fan-tail hybrid or a wild koi (a koi that has been released into a water body).  Looking at the variants below I see a canvas of color, style and grace that you just don’t find in other freshwater fish species.  Add 20+ pounds and you have a truly spectacular catch of a lifetime.