Thread: Catching Koi Carp

After seeing how many koi carp are in the Waikato river I decided to have some fun catching carp for berley and bait. Never fished for carp before, heard they like bread and corn but what is the best and easiest rig to tie up and us for carp?

Keep it simple. Hook, leader, swivel, sinker free running on mainline. Use the smallest sinker possible to combat current if on a river. Better still, find an area of slack water and don't use a sinker. Use small, strong hooks. Lots of sweetcorn and mashed up bread thrown in to the area you are fishing. Consult @Black Rabbit for recipes!

Originally Posted by Three O'Three

After seeing how many koi carp are in the Waikato river I decided to have some fun catching carp for berley and bait. Never fished for carp before, heard they like bread and corn but what is the best and easiest rig to tie up and us for carp?

Mullet net. You catch them in the lips and also catch mullet for bait!!

Look up some English fishing channels on YouTube carp fishing is big over there

If there is no rules about how many hooks you can use and what bait is allowed, then use this hook set. Tie it at the end of your line, leader, no leader does `t matter and use one ball sinker since you `r going to cast it away. Mono line is better because it sink fast and fish can `t see it. You can use your salt water gear for carp, rod over 3m long. Make bait dough and cover those hooks inside. For big carp living in deep water....well you got yourself a nice fight.

Originally Posted by dannyb

Attachment 268323

Thats not very fit and proper

Koi, or simply Carp. Cant call them Koi carp as it annoys the crap out of me

Anyone tried Koi meat for Snapper bait ?
Do Snapper go for it ?

Originally Posted by 30.06king

Anyone tried Koi meat for Snapper bait ?
Do Snapper go for it ?

No, but snapper would eat anything, including an old t-shirt, dead birds and polystyrene (I've seen it with my own eyes). I'm sure carp will work as bait. Some people swear by it. I wouldn't expect it to be as good as skipjack tuna, blue mackerel, pilchard etc in creating a scent trail, but if the snapper can find, they'll eat it.

Originally Posted by blip

Thats not very fit and proper

If I have to explain that this is firmly tongue in cheek then the world is in a very sad state of affairs.....

Bowfishing is the other option. Lots of koi carp shot with bow and arrow.

Originally Posted by MB

No, but snapper would eat anything, including an old t-shirt, dead birds and polystyrene (I've seen it with my own eyes). I'm sure carp will work as bait. Some people swear by it. I wouldn't expect it to be as good as skipjack tuna, blue mackerel, pilchard etc in creating a scent trail, but if the snapper can find, they'll eat it.

Easy to agree with that. I love when Snapper get into feeding frenzy mode and grab anything going. Couple of times I've seen bloody big Snapper crowding the mussel ropes being pulled in by barges in the Coromandel. Hell, what sight. Dozens of big fins and tails flashing madly as they ravage easy mussels. And fishermen casting in lures and baits for instant hookups. Quite thrilling just to see it all.
At a sanctuary called Goat Island you can buy small bags of dried or frozen peas to toss as you stand in shallow water over the rocks. Small Snapper absolutely love them and it's a laugh watching them grabbing a feed.

Originally Posted by 30.06king

Anyone tried Koi meat for Snapper bait ?
Do Snapper go for it ?

I did. We caught lots of carp, I filleted some for aged & smoked meat, but still too many then I take it to the shore and wash it with salt water, and then salt it for couple days used for bait. But I am land based fisherman so only got few bites.

Originally Posted by Black Rabbit

If there is no rules about how many hooks you can use and what bait is allowed, then use this hook set. Tie it at the end of your line, leader, no leader does `t matter and use one ball sinker since you `r going to cast it away. Mono line is better because it sink fast and fish can `t see it. You can use your salt water gear for carp, rod over 3m long. Make bait dough and cover those hooks inside. For big carp living in deep water....well you got yourself a nice fight.

Attachment 268327Attachment 268328

sorry not a fisherman but what are those spring looking things for