How would you fish this?

On my trip to Liberty Island yesterday I saw several fish jumping or swirling or swimming on the surface in this weeded area. The stuff was thick and looked dead. I got out a frog and tossed it around for a while with no hits. It looked like there were some big fish swimming around in there. How would you fish it?

MH Spinning rod, 65lb braid. 50lb flouro leader. bullet or wedge head weight in front of a swiveling hook rigged weedless into a 10 inch long,  fat plastic worm in a green /motor oil color,,,, make it crawl like a snake.

If that doesn't work, change over to a creature bait like a Space Monkey or a salamander

If that doesn't work, dynamite

Punch it with a weedless creature bait - preferable with something dark (red/black/green/purple). Just make sure youve got the rod and line to haul a stuck fish out of that mess.

Big fish you saw swimming around were carp. They're thick in the liberty shallows.

Big fish you saw swimming around were carp. They're thick in the liberty shallows.

I think you're right. I believe they are a delicacy for some. The coloring in the picture seems right.

Carp all over the place there.

Am I the only one who would MUCH rather catch a big carp than a big bass?

Am I the only one who would MUCH rather catch a big carp than a big bass?

+1

I think they get overlooked because of their limited table value but they are so much fun to catch and put up a great fight. Especially if you can find them in open water, hooking up with one on a trout rod with 6lb. test is a lot of fun. The idea of trying to haul a big carp out of that slop sounds like a blast to me. 

+1 on "Punching"

Fly line a hunk of bread........those fish love bread 

Punch it with a weedless creature bait - preferable with something dark (red/black/green/purple). Just make sure youve got the rod and line to haul a stuck fish out of that mess.

+1 THIS!    If they are bass and throwing frogs don't work, punching should work.  The big gals usually hang out in these spots.

A reel a bow and an arrow shot fast and shot often.

Bass - punching:  Tungsten weight, weedless rig of your choice & some HEAVY Power Pro.

Carp - fish along the edges with dough/masa/bread or go bow & arrow which is generally the most productive way to carp

Buzzbait

Texas rigged plastic with no weight...slowly drag it across the top and let it sink down into the open pockets.