Carp are an invasive species in Australian waterways and lakes. They are declared a noxious pest and must be destroyed. There are annual carp buster days in many dams and waterways to catch and destroy as many as possible. There are some commercial enterprises that make fish fertiliser from carp. Carp are active in the summer months.
In my quest to catch unusual species as in 2019, I embarked on an early morning trip to a local dam in South East Queensland. I was armed with a HT 6, WF6F line, a 12lb leader and a shrimp fly. As we were walking the banks and sight fishing, we had to wait until the sun was high enough to spot fish. There were plenty cruising 10-20’ from the bank. Stealthy stalking and casting was required, as these fish easily spooked. Once they saw the fly, they either ignored it or attacked with gusto.
The best fish were 70-75 cm and 10-15lb. Their power was amazing!. Runs to the backing were commonplace. The trick was to keep rolling the fish by changing direction. All went well in clear open water. Busted leaders and lost fish was a common result in the timber.
This is exceptional sight fishing. It seemed strange to a dedicated catch and release fisherman to kill the captured fish and leave it rot on the bank. After all they are a pest.