One Man’s Trash
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Outdoors with Forda Birds --- By John Andreoni
The “Get the Carp Outta Here” Fishing Tournament will be held this weekend as part of the overall plan to deal with the blue/green algae problem. Whether or not the removal of carp will have any effect on the amount of phosphorus they might produce by stirring up the water or by the waste they eliminate is subject to debate, and the debate is not new. In 1904, the Ohio Commissioners of Fish & Game entered into contracts with two fishing firms to exterminate the carp on Lake St. Marys, Indian Lake, and Buckeye Lake. It was found that the estimated abundance of these trash fish was far less than anticipated although these findings were controversial. The carp congregate in large schools in shallow water during spawning season and attract the most attention. Studies over the years indicate that the large number of carp seen during the spawning season actually make up a small percentage of the total lakes fish population. Regardless, major carp removal projects in the 1930s, 1940s, and 1950s, ultimately had little effect on our resident carp population.
Does this mean we shouldn’t have a carp tournament? Absolutely not. If nothing more, this type of activity keeps people focused on the problems that make it difficult for Lake St. Marys to maintain its positive recreational status. “Get the Carp Outta Here” says it all. Carp are a trash fish to just about any fisherman you speak too and getting rid of as many as possible can’t hurt a thing. Sometimes, though, I wonder if dead-or-alive tournaments, commercial netting, or some other means of eradication are the way to go.
I know that big-money carp tournaments are held in the U.S. and even more so in Europe. In 2006, the American Carp Society awarded a $250,000 cash prize to an angler in Texas for establishing the new state record for common carp during a contest. Other major tournaments are held, and last year’s International Championship was held in this country. The CARP Tournament Series is dedicated to catch-and-release carp angling through the promotion of pro-level tournaments which exemplify good sportsmanship, sound environmentalism, and stewardship of our lands. This organization is founded on the estimates of growth in the practice in future years. Big money carp tournaments are expected to catch on.
The European angling community agrees that the U.S. has the greatest underdeveloped potential of any of the countries regarding venues for world-class carp tournaments and competitions along with the leisure vacations and guiding that could be offered. Carp angling in Europe is a multi-billion dollar industry. With the continuous promotion of this sport to European youngsters, retail tackle sales increased every year for the last 15 years. An estimated 20,000 people from the U.K. and Europe will take an annual “carp angling” holiday to destinations like the U.S. These numbers will increase as the fishermen find their local waters saturated and begin searching for other worldwide locations that provide trophy sized carp.
Thinking like an entrepreneur, which I’m not, I wonder how much money could be generated if Grand Lake St. Marys was promoted as a hot spot for the European carp fisherman? I wonder how much an avid European carp fisherman would pay for a good local guide? It’s a mindset we don’t have. Instead of clobbering giant carp, why don’t we capture them, put them in private ponds, and offer big money prizes like some of the pay lakes do. Carp are worth a lot of money!
I came across a fish hatchery in England that provides carp for stocking. Of course, they’re specially raised English carp. Actually, they are referred to as "stunningly attractive fish." When you buy these carp, they are “strong, healthy, long lived, and have never seen a hook before. They definitely are not imported carp that are laundered to look like English fish.” What do carp for stocking cost? It depends on size and quality. Carp from our lake would probably be worth a dollar or two less a pound than the well-bred English carp. Regardless, in dollars and cents, carp from ten inches to three pounds are worth $7.90 a pound. Larger fish are more expensive. A five to nine pound fish is $12 a pound; a nine to 18 pound fish is $20 a pound; and a 14 to 19 pound fish is $30 a pound. These fish are stocked by carp clubs in their ponds and lakes to provide quality sport and competitive fishing. Consequently, this weekend, if and when you check out the fish being removed from the lake and tossed into barrels, keep in mind that a 20 pound carp in England, on the hoof and from a good background, would be worth approximately $600.
It’s just a thought, but I wonder how many of our local carp could be removed and kept alive if there was a market for them overseas? A person might be able to make enough money to fund other major lake clean-up projects. How much local money would be generated if 10,000 Brits came to the lake to fish for carp every year? Food, lodging, transportation, and guide service would undoubtedly bring a lot of cash to the area. You could even throw in a side trip to the Miami-Erie Canal or the St. Marys River.
To some, this column might sound a little silly, but it does have some validity. And, it definitely does show that one man’s trash is another man’s treasure.
