Grass Carp and Custom Barriers

Grass Carp have proven to be effective in controlling aggressive aquatic weed growth when combined with an herbicide treatment maintenance program. It is a perfect match because the fish are inexpensive and they have a huge appetite for problem plants.

They were introduced into Florida’s waterways in 1972. These silvery green fish can live 10-12 years and on average grow to 15-20 pounds and up to 35 inches long. The bigger they get the more they can eat.  In large lakes where food is everywhere they can get up to 50 pounds.  We only use State authorized Triploid Grass Carp because they are infertile.

Some of their favorite foods are hydrilla, muskgrass, pondweed, coontail, naiad, elodea, duckweed and slender spikerush. Plants that they don’t like are water hyacinth, water lettuce, water lilies, torpedo grass and cattails.

Carp eat year round but at a slower rate in the winter when the water is colder and food isn’t as abundant.  They eat more as the waters warm up and consume the most when the temperatures are between 70 and 90 degrees F.

Our expert staff can size up your waterway and determine the right aquatic herbicide approach and get treatments started while we wait on the proper permit to be acquired, which can take a few weeks. Permitting made easy -  We work closely with our clients to obtain the proper permit through Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission.  Because we are very familiar with permitting, we know what the State requires and take steps to speed up the process.

Part of the permitting process is to inspect the waterway(s).  Our staff will do a site inspection to determine the number of fish that will be needed to control underwater vegetation.  We will also be looking for any potential outflow areas where the carp could escape and a barrier(s) will need to be built and installed.

Custom Barriers - We custom build our own carp barriers to fit
any escape route that the fish may find.  The barriers are built
and properly installed. Pictures of the waterway and barrier(s) are
taken and sent with the permit application so the State will know
we have met their requirement for installing grass carp. The State
will then inspect the waterway and barrier and issue
a permit.

Once a permit is approved the fish are
ordered from a State approved fish farm.
Depending on fish availability, we will stock your waterway and let them do what they
do best….eat.