Carp Fishing Tackle Guide

While not a popular method in many places of the world such as Asia and Europe where carp are indigenous and considered a sports fish, there are many places in the United States where spear fishing for carp is one of the preferred methods.  In most U.S. states carp are not considered a game fish, and in many of those states they are also considered an invasive species which means that in many of those places they’re all open game.  This opens the door for spear fishing using either individual spears or a speargun in order to fish for carp.  Spearfishing for these fish is legal in most states, and there are no limits because of the carp’s classification as an invasive species.

However it’s always important to check the local rules.  While some places where have an unlimited harvest and no restriction on methods, not every place is going to be this open when it comes to how to fish for carp.  There are also different states or counties which have very specific and careful laws around how a speargun is used.  Most places don’t allow any type of spear fishing at a dock or within so many yards of a dock.  At the same time, these should never be aimed at individuals and some state or federal parks may prohibit their use completely.  You want to make sure before proceeding that you understand all the local rules and regulations that can come with using a speargun to fish for carp as these can vary from one location to another.

In many areas the general rule of thumb is as follows: spear fishing is allowed on fish that are NOT considered sports fish, and is NEVER allowed on fish that are.  Most states follow these rules, but as always before deciding to try spear fishing for carp (not the same as the increasingly popular bow fishing for Asian Carp) make sure that you’re following local regulations in addition to any state rules that might be in effect.  Spear fishing for carp can be an extremely gratifying recreational past time and a great way to land a large carp which can be smoked to create some pretty delicious meat to snack on.  By doing just a little bit of research ahead of time you can make sure you’re spear fishing legally and having the time of your life doing it as you pursue a good sized carp.