UNSAFE NETS ON KY. LAKE

I went fishing on Ky. Lake on Monday morning and put in at daylight. The weather was great and I was in a pretty good mood. After all I was setting out on one of the prettiest lakes in the US. Shoved off and their was a little fog on the water so I plotted my course and eased out. Hit the main lake and opened her up a little to blow out a little carbon and felt the rush of cool autumn air in my face. Life is good I thought. Headed for my favorite bay and turned in and got off the gas a little and was watching the fog twirl in little cyclones. Got into the bay and was working my way back and caught a glimpse of some jugs in the water and turned right to avoid whatever it was and then before I knew it I ran over a net in the water. Checked my prop and no damage and took off again. Just a few 100 yards and I ran over another one. I checked out the net and it ran from bank to bank. Over 300 yards. No gap anywhere. Took off again and ran up against another one. Same thing, bank to bank. Took off again and the same thing. Now I am getting a little mad about some idiot creating a dangerous situation. Went to my spot to fish and heard several boats getting off the gas then taking off. I knew what was happening. Finally I see the commercial fisherman coming in the bay to check his nets and of course I have to find out what the heck is going on. I pull up and asked him what he was doing and he said he was trying to catch all the Asian carp he could. I told him my story about not having any place to cross and how dangerous it was and he told me not to worry about it he was legal. Now I am mad. All I could do was leave because I was very upset and I know me, I would have to pray for every one on the lake including the commercial fisherman. I don't understand what is legal about creating a hazard for everyone on the water. I feel for the commercial fisherman trying to make a living but I wonder how far is too far in trying to get rid of Asian carp. Is this legal? I know it's not safe. My boat runs 70 mph. Imagine hitting one of these nets! I also wonder who would pay for any damages for boat issues getting hung up in these nets. My biggest concern is someone getting hurt or killed running into these nets. Is the fisherman liable for any accidents involving his nets? I am currently emailing KDFW and TVA about the net issues. Be careful if you are out on the water. Those jugs are hard to see and the nets have floats on them to hold them all the way to the surface.

My understanding is that the top of the nets have to be atleast 3' deep Buddy.

Which bay? The commercial guys are all over smith and Duncan but I haven't snagged a net yet.

Buddy, did you get his registration numbers? A couple of our local counties are without game wardens right now but I have numbers for a supervisor who is picking up slack till the new COs are assigned. Give me a call.

I would say you will be out of luck if your boat is damaged by a net. Many of the commercial guys don't have a pot to whiz in and would just say they strung the net legally and somebody moved it after they left.

In my previous post I had no intention of disrespecting any commercial fishermen out there. They are all working harder than 95% of us ever would in conditions that would keep us off the lake. My point is for all their hard work, they are not getting rich doing what they do. They also have as much right to be there as we do as long as they abide by the rules put forth.

I too have been extremely frustrated when I drag 10 cranks into a trotline or one day, 5 trotlines that were set 4 feet deep in 25 feet of water with no visible floats. I broke off a bunch of baits and retrieved a few. One thing I will never do is cut a trotline that is obviously freshly set and baited. That is that man's livelihood and I'm just out there for the fun of it.

Hopefully the net issue can be resolved. I want to see them catch the last living Asian carp in existence.

Wasn't there something on the board back several weeks ago about a study or something they were doing and the nets were at the top of the water column?? They may be like the hog harvest in MS, its now legal on private land hunt a hog day or night with a high powered rifle, 24/7/365. This may be happening with the carp deal.
Glad no one has been hurt or a boat damaged so far.

Rees, I think the folks at Hancock Biology Station are using special marked buoys for their study nets.

I fished Monday as well. I saw the line of jugs and swung way wide of the last one, slowed down and ended up tangled in my prop. Then I had to cross a 2nd one and tilted my motor all the way out and cleared the net.
Both of these nets were black in color and right on or just under the surface. I had to cut my way out of the first net but serves them right for not marking them and setting them properly. Both of these nets were in little Jonathan up ruff creek.

I saw the guys pulling those nets last Monday. They had quite a few out in ruff and just outside the bridge. Didn't see any markers on the ones by the bridge.

Been trying to think where I heard or read about this. The asians have been escaping above the nets so they were going to allow the nets to be set at the surface. I think they were supposed to be marked and the nets were to be attended at all times. This may be something that they were talking about allowing. I think I saw this on KY Afield. Just not real sure about this.

I emailed Paul Rister and he sent me some info. I can't say enough about that guy. Every time I ask him something he gets back with me immediately and with some great information. We are blessed to have him watching everything. This is one thing he sent me about the regulations and he has talked to the commercial fisherman about staying with the nets and trying to get some info out about what is going on. I think they should make some better markers on the pass to go through. We have to do something going forward to help eradicate these carp before they destroy our great fishery. I think a trawler like they use in the ocean and take advantage of their surface feeding habits would go a long ways in getting these rascals. Enticing the commercial fisherman to help seems kind of hard to do with such low per pound rewards.
301 KAR 1:152. Asian Carp and Scaled Rough Fish Harvest Program.



RELATES TO: KRS 150.010, 150.170, 150.175, 150.445, 150.450(2), (3), 150.990

STATUTORY AUTHORITY: KRS 150.025(1)

NECESSITY, FUNCTION, AND CONFORMITY: KRS 150.025(1) authorizes the department to promulgate administrative regulations to establish seasons for the taking of fish and wildlife, to regulate creel limits and methods of take, to regulate the buying, selling, or transporting of fish and wildlife, and to make these requirements apply to a limited area. This administrative regulation establishes the requirements for the department’s Asian carp harvest program.



Section 1. Definitions. (1) "Asian carp" means:

(a) Bighead carp;

(b) Black carp;

(c) Grass carp; or

(d) Silver carp.

(2) "By-catch" means any fish that is not an Asian carp or scaled rough fish.

(3) "Program participant" means a commercial fisherman who is:

(a) Enrolled in the Asian Carp Harvest Program; and

(b) Fishing in restricted water.

(4) "Restricted water" means those areas, pursuant to 301 KAR 1:140, 1:150, and 1:155, where:

(a) Commercial fishing is prohibited; or

(b) Commercial fishing with gill or trammel nets is prohibited.

(5) "Scaled rough fish" means any scaled fish that is not an Asian carp or sport fish pursuant to 301 KAR 1:060.

(6) "Whip net set" means a gill or trammel net that is:

(a) Set to encircle and harvest Asian carp; and

(b) Always tended by a program participant while in the water.



Section 2. Qualifications. A commercial fisherman shall:

(1) Contact the department and request to be included in the program;

(2) Possess a valid Kentucky commercial fishing license;

(3) Have possessed a valid Kentucky commercial fishing license for at least three (3) consecutive years; and

(4) Have reported a harvest of at least 10,000 pounds of fish per year for a three (3) consecutive year period.



Section 3. Program Participant Requirements. A program participant shall:

(1) Call the department at 800-858-1549 at least forty-eight (48) hours in advance of the requested fishing date and provide the following information:

(a) The participant’s name;

(b) The fish buyer’s name and phone number;

(c) Date requested;

(d) The location in the restricted water to be fished; and

(e) The name or location of the boat ramp that will be used;

(2) Harvest a weight ratio of at least seventy-five (75) percent Asian carp to twenty-five (25) percent scaled rough fish over a one (1) month period;

(3) Only fish:

(a) On dates approved by the department; and

(b) At a location approved by the department;

(4) Immediately notify the department if the participant changes the:

(a) Fishing location in the restricted water body; or

(b) Boat ramp being used;

(5) Only use a whip net set with a minimum bar mesh size of three and one-quarter (3.25) inches;

(6) Complete and submit to the department a Daily Harvest and Release Summary Card immediately after each day’s fishing;

(7) Be allowed to sell all harvested Asian carp and scaled rough fish pursuant to Section 2 of this administrative regulation;

(8) Immediately release all by-catch;

(9) Report all harvest on a Monthly Report of Commercial Fish Harvest form, pursuant to the requirements of 301 KAR 1:155; and

(10) Be suspended from the program:

(a) For a three (3) month period beginning on the first day of the next month if the minimum requirements established in subsection (2) of this section are not met; and

(b) For a period of one (1) year beginning on the first day of the next month if the requirements are not met a second time.



Section 4. Department Requirements. (1) The department shall:

(a) Maintain a list of program participants and their contact information, which shall be:

1. Provided to known fish buyers; and

2. Updated at least weekly; and

(b) Review all restricted water fishing requests pursuant to the requirements of Section 3 of this administrative regulation.

(2) The department shall approve a qualified fishing request by assigning:

(a) A fishing location and boat ramp to a program participant, except that no more than two (2) program participants shall be assigned to the same one-half (1/2) mile section of water; and

(b) The time period when fishing may occur, not to exceed a three (3) consecutive day period.

(3) The department shall not approve a fishing request for the following reasons:

(a) Higher than normal by-catch is likely to occur at that location and time;

(b) Two (2) program participants have already been approved for the same one-half (1/2) mile section of water at the same time; or

(c) A requested date falls on:

1. Memorial Day;

2. Labor Day;

3. July 4; or

4. A Saturday or Sunday from April 1 through September 30.



Section 5. Program disqualification. A program participant whose commercial fishing license becomes revoked or suspended pursuant to 301 KAR 1:155 shall be disqualified from participating in the Asian carp harvest program while that license is revoked or suspended.



Section 6. Incorporation by Reference. (1) "Daily Harvest and Release Summary Card", 2011 Edition, is incorporated by reference.

(2) This material may be inspected, copied, or obtained, subject to applicable copyright law, at the Kentucky Department of Fish and Wildlife Resources, #1 Sportsman’s Lane, Frankfort, Kentucky, Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. (38 Ky.R. 434; eff. 10-6-11; 38 Ky.R. 1473; 1724; eff. 5-4-12; 647; 1041; eff. 11-7-2013.)

Didn't have time to read through all that, but Jonathan was full of Asian carp last Saturday...