The most serious carp fishermen go to great lengths and expense to protect their fish. Here are a few ideas that carp fishermen use to ensure the safe release and health of the fish.
Treble hooks are out! Trebles can be very damaging to the fish. In addition, if a fish breaks off, it is possible that a treble could impale the fish’s upper and lower lip, thus locking its jaw shut. This would cause the fish to slowly starve to death. Sharp hair rigged hooks are just as effective as trebles and far less damaging to the carp.
Many fishermen use special carp nets with a fine mesh. Large Euro-style nets are sold at many online carp stores (suggest Wacker Baits). These expensive nets have a fine and soft netting that protects the fish’s scales. Normal bass nets have a harsh nylon netting which can cause damage to scales though those nets are a inexpensive and better than no net at all.
Many serious carp fishermen use unhooking mats. These are soft mats that have a nylon-type slippery surface. Once the fish is brought ashore, it is placed on this mat to be unhooked. I have one and find that they are especially useful to use on hard banks and surfaces with rocks and gravel. In many cases, I usually just keep the carp in the net and unhook it in the water, avoiding contact with the bank and making the unhooking mat unnecessary.
Never stick a weighing hook from a digital scale in the gill plate of a carp like you would with a largemouth bass. Carp gills are super sensitive and tear easily (which will cause death). If you want to weigh a big fish, you can do it safely in one of two ways. Keep it in the net and hook the net, lifting both the net and the fish with the scale. Another way to do it is to use a weigh sling. These inexpensive slings look like a sack with handles. The fish is placed in the sack and the scale hook is placed around the handle for weighing (see photo). Wacker sells these also.
The CAG is serious about promoting carp safety. The above procedures ensure a healthy release meaning the fish lives to fight again.
Treble hooks are out! Trebles can be very damaging to the fish. In addition, if a fish breaks off, it is possible that a treble could impale the fish’s upper and lower lip, thus locking its jaw shut. This would cause the fish to slowly starve to death. Sharp hair rigged hooks are just as effective as trebles and far less damaging to the carp.
Many fishermen use special carp nets with a fine mesh. Large Euro-style nets are sold at many online carp stores (suggest Wacker Baits). These expensive nets have a fine and soft netting that protects the fish’s scales. Normal bass nets have a harsh nylon netting which can cause damage to scales though those nets are a inexpensive and better than no net at all.
Many serious carp fishermen use unhooking mats. These are soft mats that have a nylon-type slippery surface. Once the fish is brought ashore, it is placed on this mat to be unhooked. I have one and find that they are especially useful to use on hard banks and surfaces with rocks and gravel. In many cases, I usually just keep the carp in the net and unhook it in the water, avoiding contact with the bank and making the unhooking mat unnecessary.
Never stick a weighing hook from a digital scale in the gill plate of a carp like you would with a largemouth bass. Carp gills are super sensitive and tear easily (which will cause death). If you want to weigh a big fish, you can do it safely in one of two ways. Keep it in the net and hook the net, lifting both the net and the fish with the scale. Another way to do it is to use a weigh sling. These inexpensive slings look like a sack with handles. The fish is placed in the sack and the scale hook is placed around the handle for weighing (see photo). Wacker sells these also.
The CAG is serious about promoting carp safety. The above procedures ensure a healthy release meaning the fish lives to fight again.
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