Lake Hopatcong Grass Carp:

[Lard Almighty]

I hope this doesn't happen. Grass carp destroyed the fishing on Lake Eufaula in Alabama several years ago, it was big news in bass fishing circles when it happened. Allegedly, the grass carp ate just about every weed in the place, and then got so desperate for food that they started hitting lures.

Spraying might be a better option; at least you can target some areas selectively with herbicide. You can't tell the grass carp to just stop eating when enough of the weeds are gone.

[FASTEDDIE29]

Oh no this is turning into a political debate!!! What the hell??? Hahaha!!!! When there were contests at least people posted pics of fish! Now we just have statements and opinions from a bunch of cranky fair weather fishermen!!! Oh boy!!!

Disclaimer; My statement isn’t directed at anyone in particular! I’m just telling da truth!!! Please don’t get offended and if you do, PISS OFF!!! LOL!!!!!

[AndyS]

Grass carp were not stocked in the canal, they escaped from some farm pond being used to keep down weed growth. Flooding has spread these fish out. As F&W stated, they can only be stocked with NO OUTLET waters. Small fish need weeds to hide in, grass carp eliminate all the weeds thus destroying the food chain.

[thmyorke1]

I haven't heard if any grass carp were put into the canal

I have read posts on the canal stating about chemicals used on the water to control vegetation (or insects, I forget which)

The whole Raritan and Delaware watershed ends up to the main stem; surely it's gonna get some foreign fish.

[zhitoman]

Grass carp do not spawn in our climates, its way too cold for them. Grass carp eat insects and small fish as well as weeds. Grass carp are more like lazy gigantic chub in their behavior and are nothing like asian or common carp. I say put at least at least 1000 juvenile grass carp in the lake. Half of them are not going to survive the predators anyway. Guys, stop being whiny little girls, grass carp are harmless to the environment, I grew up in Europe and dealt with grass carp more than any of you here. We use carrots and cherry tomatoes besides other baits to catch them, they are fun and they taste delicious.

[Adrenalinerush]

Originally Posted by zhitoman

Grass carp do not spawn in our climates, its way too cold for them. Grass carp eat insects and small fish as well as weeds. Grass carp are more like lazy gigantic chub in their behavior and are nothing like asian or common carp. I say put at least at least 1000 juvenile grass carp in the lake. Half of them are not going to survive the predators anyway. Guys, stop being whiny little girls, grass carp are harmless to the environment, I grew up in Europe and dealt with grass carp more than any of you here. We use carrots and cherry tomatoes besides other baits to catch them, they are fun and they taste delicious.

I'm gonna have to try carrots and cherry tomatoes because I can't catch them on dough balls, thanks!

[oelgnal1]

Here is some info on different types of control.

The aquatic moth Acentria ephemerella, the water veneer moth, feeds upon and damages this water milfoil. It has been used as an agent of biological pest control against the plant in North America. The milfoil weevil (Euhrychiopsis lecontei) has also been used as biocontrol. Another method for biocontrol is Grass Carp, (one of the Asian Carp species) which have been bred as sterile, is sometimes released into affected areas, since these fish primarily feed on aquatic plants and have proven effective at controlling the spread. However, the carp prefer many native species to the milfoil and will usually decimate preferred species before eating the milfoil. In Washington State the success rate of Grass Carp has been less than expected. They were used in 98 lakes and 39 percent of them had no submerged plant life left after only a short time.

Since roughly 2000, hand-harvesting of invasive milfoils has shown much success as a management technique. Several organizations in the New England states have undertaken large scale, lake-wide hand-harvesting management programs with extremely successful results. Acknowledgment had to be made that it is impossible to completely eradicate the species once it is established. As a result, maintenance must be done once an infestation has been reduced to affordably controlled levels. Well trained divers with proper techniques have been able to effectively control and then maintain many lakes, especially in the Adirondack Park in Northern New York where chemicals, mechanical harvesters, and other disruptive and largely unsuccessful management techniques are banned. After only three years of hand harvesting in Saranac Lake the program was able to reduce the amount harvested from over 18 tons to just 800 pounds per year.

[AndyS]

They also said Snakeheads wouldn't make it through the cold winters in N.J., now look. I don't think anyone is whining, this is good information for all fishermen to know.

[thmyorke1]

Originally Posted by AndyS

They also said Snakeheads wouldn't make it through the cold winters in N.J., now look. I don't think anyone is whining, this is good information for all fishermen to know.

I think I picked this up from the North fisheries meeting, but some guys down south are a fan of the snakeheads, how they're not wrecking anything as believed.

Im not going to be putting any in my goldfish tank still. Snakeheads might not be a problem now but in the future they can in those southern waters.

Any reports of snakeheads in the raritan?

[Jigman13]

Originally Posted by thmyorke1

I think I picked this up from the North fisheries meeting, but some guys down south are a fan of the snakeheads, how they're not wrecking anything as believed.

Im not going to be putting any in my goldfish tank still. Snakeheads might not be a problem now but in the future they can in those southern waters.

Any reports of snakeheads in the raritan?

Not yet but in due time I'm sure. Id imagine they'd show up in the canal in Mercer county and make their way up slowly but surely.