Not that kind, the fish. This past week I undertook a relatively difficult upstream paddle on a local river. About 5 mi. into it I noticed large schools of 3-4lb buffalo ( carp) feeding along the banks. Growing up we'd always considered Buffalo to be a trash fish, but I'm now hearing they're quite good to eat when properly prepared. I noticed too, that if I approached quietly I could get right on top of them without spooking them off. On that note, I've procured a telescoping gig and the plan is to stalk and gig a few fish to check them out. I've also youtubed a few videos where anglers catch them on a hook baited with corn, but the current runs fairly swift and I'm not sure about that method, there anyway.
Buffalo
- Thread starter Onyrlef
- Start date
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DutchmenSport
Well-known member
Never heard of eating carp before until now. I suppose folks will try anything. Let us know how it call comes out.
People have been eating both catfish and mullet since forever and they're bottom feeders. People eat pork, ever seen what a pig will eat?
Tulecreeper
Well-known member
I've had pickled carp. It was pretty good, and the pickling dissolved the bones.
That said, make sure you check you state's fishing regs about the gigging. Just because they're not considered a sport fish doesn't mean you can take them with any method.
SMR
Well-known member
Or chickens.......
I did and couldn’t find a thing on it. I was concerned because I remembered in Colorado they’d throw away the key if you were caught gigging Salmon or Brown Trout. You couldn’t even be in possession of a gig in Colorado.
Tulecreeper
Well-known member
Yes, that's what I meant. I'm pretty confident that there isn't any (or many) states that have a rule against gigging "non-game" fish like carp - or Buffalo, which is actually a member of the sucker family. I know that in CA and here in AR they actually have archery tournaments for carp.
jymbee
Well-known member
Was a long time ago but I remember folks using a fishing bow & arrow setup to catch carp at a nearby lake. Wonder what regs something like that these days might look like...
Of course, Google offers all kinds of info:
I did some more research after Tulecreeper rudely reminded me there are laws. As long as it's not a gamefish you can use dynamite here in Texas ( not really), but you can gig and use a spear (bow). However I think, at least in Texas, you could use an assault rifle with.a 30 rd. clip, if you're 12, have a fishing license, a blood alcohol less than 4.0 and at least one 4'x6' American flag flying from the bed of your truck.
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Professor David
Well-known member
Growing up in Detroit, lots of people ate carp and loved it. We would do snag fishing for them and sell them to folks that drove by making a few bucks. Too young to know how they were prepared besides being very slow cooked in a big pot with lots of wonderful spices.
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Tulecreeper
Well-known member
This is the type of platform they shoot from when bowfishing for carp:
Tulecreeper
Well-known member
Sorry, force of habit.
DutchmenSport
Well-known member
Well, I don't know all the rules, but Indiana still has these on it's books.
Here's a couple good ones:
- In Muncie, Indiana it’s a crime to carry fishing tackle into a cemetery.
- In Indiana and Kansas, no one may catch fish with their bare hands.
I like it. I’m not into killing for fun or anything I don’t eat so if I do manage to gig a few and they fry up well I told my bride I may invest in a bow fishing rig.
DonTom
Well-known member
I think any fish can taste great if you spice it up.
While most Americans do not like a lot of bones in fish, many Asians are the opposite, and think the more bones make a tastier fish.
-Don- Reno, NV
While most Americans do not like a lot of bones in fish, many Asians are the opposite, and think the more bones make a tastier fish.
-Don- Reno, NV
Tulecreeper
Well-known member
In many lakes, the carp are causing a terrible fisheries problem by muddying up the water, spoiling nesting habitat for more desirable fish, and just plain overpopulating. So, many Fish & Game agencies see this as a way to "thin the herd".
That makes sense.
Tulecreeper
Well-known member
There are also a few local companies that take the catch and turn it into fertilizer. And, of course, in some areas many SE Asians hang around and take some of it for themselves at the end of the day. It doesn't all go to the landfill.
old_toys
Well-known member
i've eaten carp long ago and they are very earthy tasting. one thing for sure, there is a lot of meat on one.
the only way i would ever eat any again is it were cooked in a smoker all spiced up.
here's a pic of one of the weed control grass carp they use in lakes here that are catch and release only
got it on my ultralite outfit in the kayak.
the only way i would ever eat any again is it were cooked in a smoker all spiced up.
here's a pic of one of the weed control grass carp they use in lakes here that are catch and release only
got it on my ultralite outfit in the kayak.
