The Asian Carp have become a huge problem for the Alton Pool area on the Mississippi River. Not only are they multiplying faster than expected, but they are creating a danger to boaters. These carp, also know as the “flying fish”, are very aggressive and seem to become angry at the sight or sound of a boat motor. They are actually jumping at, over and inside of boats. Boaters are being injured and boats are getting damaged. For some reason, they seem to be more attracted to the pontoon boats.
Types of Asian Carp
There are actually four different types of Asian Carp that have invaded the Mississippi River: common, grass, bighead, and silver carp. The common carp were brought to the United States from Europe in 1831 and distributed around the upper Mississippi River. The grass carp came from eastern Asia in 1963 to control submersed aquatic vegetation in aquaculture ponds, but weren’t found in the Mississippi River until around 1971 in the Illinois area. The bighead and silver carp came to the United States in 1973 from China, to improve the water in some of the aquaculture ponds in Arkansas. They were first noticed in the Mississippi River in 1983.
The common and the grass carp have been destroying habitat and reducing water quality for the native fish by eating or uprooting vegetation. They were both introduced to the Mississippi River by government agencies. The bighead and the silver carp are large filter-feeders and are endangering the larval fish, paddlefish, bigmouth buffalo and the freshwater mollusks or clams. The bighead and silver fish are also known to be the ones that are a problem to boaters, since they jump out of the water. These two fish have escaped from aquaculture ponds, probably from flooding. Scientists feel that this could cause long-term problems. Not to mention they are moving farther and farther upstream. Their fear is that soon they will reach the Great Lakes.
Characteristics Of The Asian Carp
A couple things to keep in mind about these fish when you are boating on the Mississippi River is they seem to jump more right around sunset. They are also more attracted to pontoon boats or boats that are moving at an idle speed. There is something about the sound of the motor that makes them jump in the air. They are able to jump higher than most boats. Most of the carp that jump weigh about 5 to 20 pounds. However, some of these fish weigh as much as 50 to 100 pounds. A fish that size could do a lot of damage. It could even be deadly!
Since the carp can swim at 20 mph, when they leap toward a boat going 30 mph, this fish is hitting full force. They jump at, over and in the boat. If they hit your boat or land in your boat, they can bleed quite profusely. This can really mess up your boat interior.
Some restaurant owners are trying new recipes with these fast-breeding fish. Since there is no way of stopping them, we may as well use them to our benefit. After all, they are an easy catch. You don’t even need a pole!
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