An Idaho angler shattered the state rod-and-reel carp record Monday with the catch of a 34-pound common carp on the Snake River.
Henry Charlier’s catch below the C.J. Strike Reservoir beats the previous record, set last December, by nearly four pounds.
While that might be impressive, considering that catching large carp is quite challenging, the response was mostly tepid after the Idaho Fish and Game Department’s announcement on Facebook.
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A sampling of comments:
– Dang… i just got one at 35.6 pounds the other night while sturgeon fishing. I just threw him on the bank for the scavengers.
– If you cook em right they’re delicious. Just kidding.
– Use it as fertilizer.
https://www.facebook.com/IdahoFishGame/posts/10159223903262622
As Idaho Fish and Game pointed out in a news release issued Wednesday, carp fishing, while immensely popular in Europe, has now gained widespread popularity in the United States.
The typical capture method is archery equipment and bow fishermen can selectively target larger fish. (Idaho’s archery record for common carp stands at 67.65 pounds; C.J. Strike Reservoir in 2011.)
But in 2016 the state opened a rod-and-reel category, making it easier for anglers to set records.
Common carp are native to Asia and Europe but now inhabit waters throughout most of the U.S. They’re an invasive species and considered “trash fish” by some anglers.
–Image showing Henry Charlier and his record carp is courtesy of the Idaho Fish and Game Department