Carp Fishing UK-Style vs Carp Catching US-Style.
Hours before Graham Slaughter landed the new world record carp, a mirror at 88lb 6oz, he banked a common carp of 69lb. Meaning that he is a double world record holder having landed the largest brace in history. Graham thought the 88lb 6oz mirror might be called GS after his initials, but the press christened it Kylie, as it weighs just 6lb less than the Aussie songstress.
Here-in lies the difference between European and US carp fihermen. While the European revere the king of all freshwater fish, the Americans (with good reason that I shan’t go into here) are more ambivolent towards the fish they consider to be the cockroach of the water. I n Europe, we gently unhook the carp, place it on a soft mat, give it a name sometimes and then return it gently to the water. In America a carp is more likely to be caught with a vbow and arrow. I used to be revolted by the thought, but have since learned of the problems that carp pose to US waterways and have come to understand their dislike of the species.
However, I am English and if I ever get the chance to fish for carp in the US, I for one will be returning what I catch to fight another day.
[Keywords: carp fishing, common carp, mirror carp, world record carp, graham slaughter ]