Buffalo Carp

 

Paul Katsus is a Katy, Texas native with interests in all types of fishing. Paul Katsus likes to share information on the sport of fishing, especially in fishing opportunities for the average fisherman without a boat. Paul Katsus will share information on other species of fish that offer low cost options and easy access to the average angler. To distinguish the Buffalo Carp from the common carp, their backs and are tan or light brown and/or sometimes dark with a coppery or greenish tint. They have a light yellow varying to white belly. Smallmouth buffalo have large scales and are easy to confuse for the common Carp. The Buffalo Carp has one easy to tell difference – there are not the barbells around the mouth as in the common Carp. Smallmouth Buffalo Carp have a mouth that points downward, as opposed to the common Carp which has a mouth more or less like any other fish.

Buffalo Carp are commonly thought of as a “trash fish” by many anglers in the United States. In other parts of the world all varieties of the Carp species are valued for their sporting excellence, as well as, for their flesh. A Buffalo Carp can grow to surprisingly huge proportions, providing quite a fight. Pound for pound, the carp is greatly underestimated by American anglers for the thrills these huge fish can provide. Dough balls and canned corn can sometimes be used to entice these freshwater monsters into biting. When one is on the line the angler better be prepared for the strong steady pull these fish provide. Don’t expect a large fish leaping out of the water but what you can expect is the drag screaming with tension unleashed by these underrated giants.

Speckled Trout

Paul Katsus is a Service Consultant for a major electrical utility company. Although Paul Katsus has fished for fresh water trout most of his life, he has recently discovered the salt water speckled trout. The salt water speckled Trout is not actually a trout at all but a member of the drum family of fish. Speckled Trout can be identified by their elongated bodies with spots. On younger Trout the spots are more prominent and are more numerous on the back. Specks have two very easy to recognize identification features; 1) they have two large canine teeth and 2) the inside of their mouths are yellow. Specks can grow to a maximum size of about 16 pounds but the average size is around one pound.

Speckled Trout are popular salt water gamefish mainly because it is an aggressive feeder and will often school up in large numbers making for rapid fire fishing action when they are found congregating. The trout is also known for its tasty flaky meat and good flavor, making speckled trout very popular not only as a sport fish, but also as table fare. Paul Katsus can recommend Speckled Trout both for sport and excellent healthy eating.