Closing the Book on 2014......A Record Year with 749 Carp Landed

Big Carp Tackle's Carp of the Month
for May

Big Carp Tackle's Carp of the Month
for April

For me, 2014 will go down as a personal best year.  I caught more carp in 2014 than any other year. The final tally in the logbook reads 749 carp landed for 2014. My previous best year was back in 2011 when I landed 738 carp.
While the numbers were there, the sizes were also.  I landed more carp over 20 lbs. than I had caught in any other year.  In addition, I landed that monster 40 lb. 2 oz. mirror that captured the Biggest Mirror Award in the North American Big 4 Tournament sponsored by the CAG. Over the years there have been very few forties taken in New England waters so this was a real prize.  It was also my second 40 lber. I have ever landed.  While I didn't land a carp in the thirties this year I got a good many fish in the 25-29 lb. range, not too shabby as far as size is concerned.
When it comes to remembering 2014 highlights, two other fish stick out in my mind.  These were the two winners in Big Carp Tackle's Carp of the Month Contest.  I had the winner for April and the winner for May.  Both of these were gorgeous mirrors that weighed 26 and 28 lbs.
The three mentioned fish above were all caught on combo baits that featured artificial, plastic floating corn matched with some type of natural bait and fished on a hair rig.  Plastic corn would have to be considered the "Bait of the Year" my book.  If you have never used this stuff, order some of the ESP plastic corn in a pink, red or orange color.  They were terrific producers for me when it came to big fish.
Note that favorable weather, especially in the fall and early winter, played a big role in keeping the fish hitting and active.  By far, it was the best September to the end of December I have ever experienced and the numbers of fish just piled up non-stop at times.
So, I am closing the book on another great carping year.  Time to start a new log as I plan to get out and hit the waters in the coming week. For me, the fishing just keeps going year round.  Let's hope 2015 brings another great year of fishing.

This 40 lb. 2 oz. mirror carp was my biggest carp for 2014,  It won the Biggest
Mirror Award in the 2014 CAG Big 4 Tournament.