FYI

Kentucky Tourism, Arts and Heritage Cabinet

Kentucky Department of Fish and Wildlife Resources

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE                

Contact: Ron Brooks

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1-800-858-1549, ext. 4466

Carp Madness Returns to Western Kentucky in June

New bowfishing tournament offers top prize of $10,000

FRANKFORT, Ky. (April 5, 2018) — Commercial anglers netted nearly 42 tons of invasive Asian carp from Kentucky and Barkley lakes during the inaugural Carp Madness tournament in 2013.

Carp Madness returns to the lakes in June with a new twist: it’s a tournament for bow anglers. The top prize is $10,000 for the team on the winning boat in each division, with total prizes of $23,000.

The Kentucky Department of Fish and Wildlife Resources and the Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency are partnering with the Kentucky Fish and Wildlife Foundation, Kentucky State Parks and the Bowfishing Association of America for Carp Madness 2. The tournament is set for the night of June 23-24.

The tournament is another way to remove carp from the lake while building awareness of the invasive fish.

“We anticipate that Carp Madness 2 will remove more than 100,000 pounds of Asian carp in a single night of bowfishing,” said Ron Brooks, fisheries division director for Kentucky Fish and Wildlife. “Proceeds beyond the cost of the tournament payouts and prizes will go to the Kentucky Fish and Wildlife Foundation, which works with our department on fish and wildlife habitat, the Salato Wildlife Education Center and sponsoring the department’s summer conservation camps for kids.”

The Bowfishing Association of America is sanctioning the event.

The entry fee is $150 per boat. Contestants can pay an extra $25 for entry into the big fish contest. Teams may consist of 2-4 anglers, but no passengers. 

The top three weights harvested per boat from each division (lake or river) will win prize money. First place pays $10,000 per boat, followed by $1,000 for second and $500 for third. The big fish payout will be combined for both divisions and depend on the number of entries.  

Contestants who weigh in Asian carp will receive a commemorative “Carp Madness 2” T-shirt. Contestants weighing in at least 250 pounds of fish will receive raffle tickets for chances at donated prizes. The Kentucky Fish and Wildlife Foundation is providing support for raffles, t-shirts and donations to the tournament. The foundation will also sell “Carp-Madness 2” T-shirts to support Asian carp removal efforts.

The tournament begins at 7 p.m. (Central time) June 23 and continues until 7 a.m. the following morning. Launch is set for the Kentucky Dam Marina Boat Ramp, located at the Kentucky Dam Village State Resort Park near Gilbertsville, Ky. Bowfishing anglers may harvest any of the Asian carp, including the silver, bighead, grass and black carp. 

Pre-registration opens today on the Bowfishing Association of America website: baastore.bigcartel.com.  Participants may also register at the event (cash only).

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Kentucky Fish and Wildlife news releases are available online at fw.ky.gov