Should I be letting the carp go? what are your views

[Coreyhkh]

Hey everyone I would just like to get some advice, I live in London Ontario where I fish almost everyday unless something get in the way. And I catch a lot of carp I am nearing 30 fish so far this year, at this rate I will be over last years 70+ carp I caught. But anyway I get a lot of people getting upset with me because I always let them go.

I dont like killing fish but if they are destroying our waterways then it may be the right thing to do.

 

[Mykester]

At this point it would be like pouring a glass of water into Lake Ontario given how much offspring they have. They've been here for a while now, it seems that the ecosystem is at equilibrium.

 

[dvigs16]

Id have to agree that it isnt going to make a difference if you kill 70 carp a year, there is still going to be just as many next year. The ministry has regulations about killing gobies and not throwing them back so if our water was in jeopardy from carp Im sure they would come up with a similar regulation as the gobies. I know alot of people fish for the carp in the st.clair river with corn on very small hooks and have a great time reeling them in, I also know people who bow the carps in mitchells bay every year. People have different perspectives of carp and if your not comfortable killing an animal then by all means dont lose sleep over it and just throw the carp back, 70 fish will not make a difference to the ecosystem and like I said before if they were threatening anything there would be regulations about throwing them back.

 

[hammercarp]

Hey everyone I would just like to get some advice, I live in London Ontario where I fish almost everyday unless something get in the way. And I catch a lot of carp I am nearing 30 fish so far this year, at this rate I will be over last years 70+ carp I caught. But anyway I get a lot of people getting upset with me because I always let them go.

I dont like killing fish but if they are destroying our waterways then it may be the right thing to do.

You are right to let them go if you are not going to eat them. Carp are protected by the same laws that protect all of our fish. This is one of several laws in that regard.
Recreational Fishing Regulations Summary 2011. Page 8
It is illegal to:
Abandon fish or permit the flesh to spoil, if the fish is suitable for
human consumption.

People eat carp here and everywhere across the world. They are fit for human consumption. So your buddies are breaking the law if they just throw them in the bushes to rot. You might want to tell them that.

 

[blair]

You are right to let them go if you are not going to eat them.

I also agree with this.
Pretty well, ... my principle for anything `wild`.

The ìnvasive species hoopla ... tends to be more Sensational than the reality.
If their here... there here.