G'day every1

Lots of you have probably seen that lots of small carp (15cms-ish) have been coming from the Torrens recently. While they can be OK to catch, they're nothing like the larger models as a challenge

I have seen one comment suggesting that they are probably from the last spawning (only 5 months or so ago I think). personally I doubt this, 1 because I have seen scools of many dozens of tiny sprats soon after the last spawning, and two, I cant imagine them getting to 10-15 cms in this time frame

I have only fished the Torrens for carp for the last 8 months or so, and I'm struggling to understand whats happening

can anyone shed some light on the "cycles" in the Torrens, and have they seen this kind of recruitment size before at this time of year ?

Cheers

im not too sure, but its startin to annoy me as the little shits get em before the big ones get a chance

im with you AFF.. its been on my mind a lot.. as has been discussed by the members of the TCC a few times down there!

woudl be good to learn the cycles of the area. so we know what we are in for at various times of year

15cm in 5 months sounds very plausable as they can grow 35-45cm in 12 months. I used to work on a farm where carp where grown for catfood using runoff from rice patties, those carp grew on average to 20cm in a little over 3 months in those ideal conditions.

cheers

I'm with piranha here......that growth rate seems plausable.....having fished the river for the best part of 35 years,seen a few in my time.
Have also seen a lot of fish in the Murray around Morgan,that have been caught in the backwaters by receding levels after good floods in the early 80's........land locked as such......grow into "monsters" in the next 3 or 4 seasons......all depends on food availability / quality I suppose.

My usual spot is plaqued with small fish also, but not the 15cm fish u speak of AFF, more like 10cm. They are a sight I must say and feed in a many not unlike an earlier poster on this thread yeah, thats right pirhana's

The bigger fish are still there but these smaller fish have meant a change in tactics as the old way is almost unfeasible now on account of them. In all the time I've been fishing down there, I never recall seeing so many of the blighters

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TNT....use dynamite...... TNT.... watch them EXPLOOODDDEEE

Can't wait for AC/DC to get here.........and go.....

I was told from a good source that the best bait for carp is carp... So maybe these bubs are worth a crack?

Make good snapper bait as well apparently.....

Im rigging up some goldfish, pre rigged with hooks then frozen for my next trip. I use a baitneedle through the mouth out the bum then the hook pulled back in I then put a bead in the mouth. I've used them for natives (overseas of course ) and they work great

Just have to see how the snapper like them, they look like red mullet so could be a winner

As for the carp...they'll spawn all year around, that rain at xmas triggered the buggers off again

Im only a fishing noob but have been hitting the torrens for the past 3 months and cant manage to pull anything bigger than about 20cm. I've seen plenty of photos of the bigger ones in there so I know they exist! Just these little buggers take the hook before any fattys get a chance.

Maybe I'm doing something wrong?

@ CK, any clues on how to "re-target" teh larger fish ?

C85 wrote:


nah dont think so mate.

The TCC had been getting large fish regularly, then these small ones arrived in big numbers over a fairly short period of time; as in 1 or 2 weeks and seem to have now virtually taken over

afishyfish wrote:


My mate at work is giving me a bit of grief since I cant get anything big out of that river (although I doubt he has fished it in a decade). I seem to have found a good spot and the right time of day, but no big guys. Think i might seek out a few different spots.

Will keep persisting

afishyfish wrote:


Yeah, but it wont work for u guys in there.

Ill go for another swim in there... and chase the little ones away....