Carp or Brown Trout

This is why I quit competing in the AOTY. Way too much complaining about what the other guy is doing, and rule changes that "help other anglers." I say leave well enough alone, and stick to a given species on the list. Once you start adding and subtracting fish, you really change the essence of the contest. If you have a set roster of species, year after year, and you are serious about it, you build your fishing schedule to coincide with the bite for the given species. Set it and forget it.

My main reason to join AOTY is to support this great site.  I compete in AOTY for fun and thinking more species would add to the fun (that's why I also join KayakWars) not to help me or "other anglers". 

So Ben, what criteria a fish need to meet to "deserve" to be on AOTY list?

Simple
6. Only fish that you can normally keep and eat (per CA DFG regulations) are eligible.

Carp are essentially empty from the DFG regulations as a game fish.  little to no restrictions.  No size limits, no mentioned catch and possession limits, you can even shoot them with a bow and arrow.  Why? Because the majority of people don't fish for them, don't like them, and catch them only incidentally.  Sure, some segment of the population targets them, but some segment of the population targets jacksmelt too.

It's not a fish that people target.  Its a fish caught on accident.  Of the rest of the AOTY species, I can only think of one other fish that people catch mostly incidentally.  Greenling.  Bycatch of the rockfish world, completely random for the most part.

If we want to set up a carp tourney, go ahead, I'd probably even fish the darned thing with my hominy or breadcrumbs or whatever they eat.  But they're not an AOTY fish. 

SaltyJim said that we can add it and see how many people fish for them - but that's the problem.  Some people might catch a 200pt carp.  That affects the rest of the standings and gets people to fish for carp solely because of the tournament, not because they like to catch/fish for carp. 

I can say for the fish that are currently in AOTY i like fishing for them with the exception of Halibut and Sturgeon.  But at least those have specific target reasons, both are Premium table fare.  Carp are "edible".

I also voted neither. 

Brown trout are not different enough from the other trout to deserve their own category.  I know they're a different genus but so is brook trout.  Brook trout are also rarely targeted in warm water fisheries.  If we split out brownies that would be elevating them above other trout which is not necessarily fair, we should then make it genus based.  Salmo, Oncorhynchus, and Salvelinus.  While steelhead are the exact same in taxonomy to a rainbow, there's at least a distinction to it being an adronomous fish.

I saw nothing wrong with the tourney when it was 10 fish (with the exception being the spotted bass could not be counted as a LMB and the silly sturgeon rule).  I see little wrong with it in the current 20 fish.  If it ain't broke don't fix it. 

Why not add both on a trial basis & see how many get posted up? & Ben, Kayak Wars includes carp, just saying...... I'm cool with any changes as long as it's what the players want.

That is one of the options in the poll.

-Allen




Yeah......but I view this 'poll' as fraudulent as it is open to anybody to vote. Only aoty players should be polled.

Yeah......but I view this 'poll' as fraudulent as it is open to anybody to vote. Only aoty players should be polled.

Really Jim?  Who are you calling fraudulent?  You may want to rethink your approach to this ...

-Allen

I mean ... we're talking about the 2013 event.  Not even you are signed up for that yet.

-Allen

Kayak fishing for carp, would add another strong fighting fresh water species to AOTY.
dave...

the poll is. not any 1 person

Placed my vote for carp ... seems to be available at most lakes.  Though I would believe that this is by hook and line, not bow/arrow.

the poll is. not any 1 person

Jim,

This is my personal's poll only.  The tittle says "If ....".

Sonny

I'm in for 2013 
If you're a good angler ..... does it really matter.
Who gives a F%&K what fish we are targeting 
I say the more fish the better ...... Fish On!!!!!!

See Ya All in 2013
Eric / Yakhopper

Of course there are a few who are affraid to fish for some species

My beef is because this poll is open it may not reflect the actual players. & that sucks.

My beef is because this poll is open it may not reflect the actual players. & that sucks.

And as far as I know, even you aren't a player for 2013 yet.  Seriously Jim, relax!

-Allen

I guess I'm too laid back to compete, but I don't do well at keeping my opinions to myself either,

Some observations and comments:

No matter what everyone plays by the same rules.

AOTY is decided only on an anglers top 10 fish (so who cares how many are listed as possibles?)

Seems some angling skill would be required to catch a large fish in any species including carp (or luck and time).

In some places carp are a sought after "game fish".

Carp are pretty widespread and available to just about everyone without undue hardship.

I can understand why a purist would be miffed at the changes of the last few years.

I do "kinda" agree with Jim that those who don't play ought not to vote, but then what determines if you're playing or not, I pay each year mostly to support the site but I'm not serious about the comp. so I'm not voting but still is posting one fish playing, or is it 5 or maybe at least 10 (I have no idea)

And lastly having an AOTY forum section that has some qualification to participate in really smacks of exclusion when one of the greatest things about NCKA is it's inclusive nature and reputation.

And as far as I know, even you aren't a player for 2013 yet.  Seriously Jim, relax!

-Allen

Well since that's the second time you've brought that up in this thread seems you're 'fishing'....... so I guess I'll bite......

When you gonna get them sign ups going?