Carp with an attitude
 

The following, from the Colorado Springs Independent , is my gift for you all to contemplate this Memorial Day Weekend (especially if you plan to get a little fishing in):

"Reports are increasing in the southeastern and midwestern United States of silver carp jumping out of rivers and smacking boaters on the head or hitting boat throttles, causing bursts of speed. Several state workers in Missouri have filed compensation claims after being slugged by these carp, which can weigh as much as a hundred pounds. "They jump crazy in the air when they see a boat coming," said Duane Chapman, a U.S. Geological Survey fisheries biologist from Columbia, Mo., who added that a carp hit him in the mouth while he was standing in his boat."

Questions:

1) Should the state of Missouri put more funding into schools of fish in order to instill them with a proper respect for mankind?

2) What the heck is the U.S. GEOLOGICAL survey doing hiring fisheries biologists? What do these biologists normally do besides insult carp? Study fossil fishes and instill our youth with evolutionary science propaganda?

3) Just what could this man have said to the carp that the fish felt he had to hit him in the mouth over the insult? Shouldn't our civil service employees be more civil and why should they sue the government if they're not?

I humbly await your enlightenment on these things...

sounds fishey to me !!!!!

The USGS does more than just make maps.

When I was doing my Bachelor's in Geography and Planning I got to do the "behind the scenes" tour of the USGS HQ in Reston, Virginia.

Was a lot of fun. They were just getting started on computer mapping in those days ... they were hand digitizing everything. No scanners, most output was to paper plotters.

I've actually seen video of the jumping carp phenomenon, and it is no laughing matter. These 10-15# fish get about six feet of air under them, and they come flying right up out of the water and clobber people. One guy sustained a fairly serious head injury over this. If you are going down the river at 10 mph and the fish jumps straight into your face, it is like getting hit with a big squishy rock at about 15 mph. Ouch.

They're some sort of non-native Asian carp species, and apparently they become agitated by the noise of boat motors.

Damned foreigners! ;)

if someone charged towards me in a powerboat while I was having a swim I'd jump up and slap them around a bit too.

Damned foreigners!:D

Damn teachers have failed again.:p

Once again we are putting onto the state what should be the responsibility of the parents. Schools of fish in Missouri have not failed, it is the big fish in the small ponds who have failed their young.

As posted here, Asian carp are taking over Mississippi River and connected waterways, and we in Canada are trying to keep them out of the Great Lakes. Losing battle.

Better start eating carp.
I can't come in to work today boss, I was hit by a fish....

They grow fast and huge

Holy Shit!
 

Jesus H. Christ in a carp basket! That video was nuts! Thanks sparkler. I'm gonna send that to my friends.

There is a developing market for those carp (Asian stores here and as an export). Maybe McDonalds can come up with a McCarp sandwich, or maybe some McCarpnuts.:neutral:

Carping About Carp
 

Actually, it's probably like getting hit by a big, squishy Asian Carp.:blush:

Recipe for carp:

one wooden shingle
one carp filleted
1/2 fresh lemon
1/2 cup diced tomato
1 tsp cilantro
1 tsp soy sauce
1 tsp terrikai
pinch pepper

Lay the carp fillets on the shingle, squeeze half lemon over it. Ladle the other mixed ingredients over it. Wrap with aluminum foil. Gently lay on campfire (or oven if you must) for 25 minutes. Unwrap foil, throw away carp and eat shingle. Everyone knows that carp is damn near inedible.

What language was he speaking? Was that cajun or creole, or whatever they speak down there by New Orleans with the French influence? Was that even in the US?

It says on that link further down the page that it is in Brazil. But I just saw a documentary on it in the USA and the Fish and Game dept. and the carp were doing the exact same thing in the daylight. I know a girl who was sailing off the coast of China with her hubby and they were pounded with fish. It's the motor noise that scares them they think.

The second link on the page addresses carp in the USA.

It's like the old slap stick movies huh? LOL