Passaic Carp Saturday 10/3

[JDTuna]

I had the opportunity to do some fishing on Saturday, however the weather had no intention of cooperating. High winds meant saltwater was out as well as any potential lake/reservoir kayaking. The drop in temperature and the deluge of rain through Saturday morning was a combination that usually (initially) meant slow piking. SoI decided to target a species that I hadn't fished for in a long time, the humble carp. I went out and picked up some small circle hooks and weights and headed down to the river.

I got to my spot on the river at around 12:30pm and despite the cold, conditions looked great. I set up and began the waiting game. My friend showed up shortly afterwards. It took a little while to get them going, but once they did the bite was great for about 45 minutes. I ended up landing a few and missing some bites that didn't hook up. All in all the fishing was pretty good, and it was a great day with otherwise terrible weather. I had totally forgotten how hard those fish can pull, and they really remind me of a freshwater version of red drum, with hard, bulldogging runs. Definitely an underrated gamefish. All carp were released.

A couple of pics:
http://i91.photobucket.com/albums/k320/JL1981/Mobile%20Uploads/20151003_143426_001-1_zpstbjecnux.jpg

http://i91.photobucket.com/albums/k320/JL1981/Mobile%20Uploads/20151003_140607_zpsrseetbcq.jpg

[dakota560]

Couldn't agree with your post more. They're a great fish to catch, they can reach monstrous sizes and pound for pound are as good a fighting fish in fresh water as any other fish there is. This is a great time of year to catch a trophy as they start beefing up for the long winter. Great job on the catch and release.

[saxmatt]

Nice job! Cool to see more people fishing for carp. You'll get more hookups if you don't use circle hooks, they can easily eject them. If you're seeing a lot of bumps and fish taking a few feet of line out and dropping your bait you either have the wrong hooks or dull hooks.

[Eskimo]

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Good job.
I've never heard of anyone using circle hooks for carp. They do put up a hell of a fight. They pull and pull until they can find some woody structure to break you off on.


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[saxmatt]

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They pull and pull until they can find some woody structure to break you off on.
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Not if you have the right equiptment. I use 12' rods with 50lb braid and 60lb floro shock leaders. I've caught a bunch of carp with hooks and line hanging from them, deformed lips from treble hooks or lip grippers, torn gills, and if you break them off they can become teathered to a snag and die. if you want to fish for carp as a sportfish that's awesome but please use the right gear.

[Chrisper4694]

Nice job man, they are for sure some of the strongest fish that swim. If only they were inclined to hit lures more often I'd target them more haha.

[xDirty]

If you dont mind me asking, what baitcaster combo do you use, it looks bad ass in the picture.

[JDTuna]

Nice job! Cool to see more people fishing for carp. You'll get more hookups if you don't use circle hooks, they can easily eject them. If you're seeing a lot of bumps and fish taking a few feet of line out and dropping your bait you either have the wrong hooks or dull hooks.

Thanks!!! I have actually done pretty well with circle hooks. I put the reel almost in freespool, then when they pick up the bait I engage the drag (like I do dead sticking for most fish). The reason I missed fish the other day was because I have forgotten to put the reel in freespool after fighting a fish, so when they hit they felt resistance and dropped it. The one plus with the circles is I don't pull the hooks on carp once they're hooked. Also, I wouldn't necessarily mind missing a fish here and there knowing they won't get gut hooked. Definitely a fun fish. I have also caught them sight casting with tiny jigs.

[JDTuna]

Nice job man, they are for sure some of the strongest fish that swim. If only they were inclined to hit lures more often I'd target them more haha.

Thanks! I have actually caught them on tiny jigs and soft plastics, casting to them while they root around in the shallows. In the Passaic, they're usually easy to spot early in the morning.

[JDTuna]

If you dont mind me asking, what baitcaster combo do you use, it looks bad ass in the picture.

Thats actually an Avet SX. I usually use it for stripers, but it works well in this scenario.

[xDirty]

Thats actually an Avet SX. I usually use it for stripers, but it works well in this scenario.

What about the rod

[Chrisper4694]

I use a hair rig and never gut hooked one, I think they're too smart to gut hook haha. My biggest issue is ripping the hook through their lip when I try to slow them down headed for a snag...not really sure what to do in that situation.

[saxmatt]

Thanks!!! I have actually done pretty well with circle hooks. I put the reel almost in freespool, then when they pick up the bait I engage the drag (like I do dead sticking for most fish). The reason I missed fish the other day was because I have forgotten to put the reel in freespool after fighting a fish, so when they hit they felt resistance and dropped it. The one plus with the circles is I don't pull the hooks on carp once they're hooked. Also, I wouldn't necessarily mind missing a fish here and there knowing they won't get gut hooked. Definitely a fun fish. I have also caught them sight casting with tiny jigs.

Circle hooks will definitely work but they're not ideal for carp fishing. I fish tournaments with 80+ carp anglers and nobody uses circle hooks. Circles work when they are running away but you want to hook them as soon as they suck in the bait or try to eject the bait. Circles aren't great for that. Try a 4-6" braided leader with a number 2-6 hook if you're using corn or boilies on a hair, or a 1/0 octopus with a puff. Also use a 2oz+ lead, the weight of the lead will set the hook for you. I've caught thousands of carp this way and have never got hooked 1.

[JDTuna]

Circle hooks will definitely work but they're not ideal for carp fishing. I fish tournaments with 80+ carp anglers and nobody uses circle hooks. Circles work when they are running away but you want to hook them as soon as they suck in the bait or try to eject the bait. Circles aren't great for that. Try a 4-6" braided leader with a number 2-6 hook if you're using corn or boilies on a hair, or a 1/0 octopus with a puff. Also use a 2oz+ lead, the weight of the lead will set the hook for you. I've caught thousands of carp this way and have never got hooked 1.

Good points. I am (admittedly) a casual carp fisherman and I haven't really delved into the myriad of methods and tricks to target them. Luckily, these fish were taking the bait on the run so hooking them wasn't an issue. I'd definitely bet they are a lot harder to use with success in heavily pressured areas. I will give some small octopus hooks a try next time I'm out. Whereabouts are the tourneys you fish?

[JDTuna]

What about the rod

Its a St. Croix Mojo.

[saxmatt]

I fish tournaments up on the Seneca River in Baldwinsville NY and tournaments up on the St. Lawrence. If you want some really good hooks and other carp gear check out bigcarptackle.com

[TheDreamCatchers]

thats awesome. Its a rush hooking up with big carp. ive always caught them in the smaller rivers that empty into the passaic. Ive never tried for them in the main river

[ReelErIn]

Cool that pic reminds me of Carp fishing on the Garfield side when I was a kid
in da early 60's