Two-day Asian carp fishing tournament lined up for Kentucky

Frankfort, KY, United States (4E Sports) – The country’s first commercial Asian carp fishing tournament will reel off Tuesday and Wednesday with 21 teams from Kentucky, Indiana and Tennessee seeing action.

The Carp Madness Tournament will be held at Kentucky and Barkley lakes in Western Kentucky.

“Our goal is simple: We want to purge 100 tons of carp from two of the state’s best fishing lakes,” said Ron Brooks, fisheries director for the Kentucky Department of Fish and Wildlife Resources.

Tim Farmer, host of “Kentucky Afield”, will emcee the final tournament weigh-in at 7 p.m. Wednesday at the Kentucky Dam Marina ramp in Gilbertsville.

The Kentucky Department of Fish and Wildlife has earmarked a $10,000 cash prize to the commercial fishing team that brings in the most poundage and $20,000 to be divided among the top five teams.

Netting is the best way to capture Asian carp since they are plankton feeders and do not bite baited hooks. Approximately 50 volunteers will help monitor the contest.

Aside from the fishing contest, spectators can also see Asian carp filleting demonstrations and have their questions answered by fisheries biologists.

Although fishermen will likely be bringing fish in to weigh all day long, most will likely be brought in after 5 p.m. Final weigh-ins are planned nightly at 7 p.m. at the Kentucky Dam Marina ramp, located at the Kentucky Dam Village State Resort Park.

“We want people to come to this event so they can see the problem we’re dealing with in both of these lakes,” Brooks said. “We think people will be amazed by the size and quantity of these fish.”

Fish caught during the tournament will be placed in a refrigerated truck for transport to processing plants. Asian carp have white meat without a strong fishy taste when properly prepared.

Asian carp include three species: the bighead carp, silver carp and black carp. Asian carp spread throughout much of the Mississippi River basin after escaping from fish farms in the 1970s.

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