The lure of Asian carp: turning a pest into gold

Currently there are more than 40 commercial fishermen dedicated to catching Asian carp in western Kentucky. The long-term prospects offered by the overgrowth of Asian carp are exactly why James Berry and Justin Irwin think that their job is secure until they want to retire.

"We have a big dream," said Berry. "We want a bigger boat. We confidently think we can do anywhere from 30,000 to 50,000 pounds a day with a purse seine (net) because of what we see out there. The schools of fish are massive; the problem is to get around them."

A purse seine is a large wall of net with floats along the top and a lead line threaded through the bottom. Once a school of fish is located, a skiff encircles the school with the net. The lead line is then pulled in to close the net on the bottom, preventing fish from escaping by swimming downward.

"The way we are fishing now, we are setting the net off at our bow," said Berry. "We are missing fish because we are not going fast enough."

Berry said they are saving up and plan to reinvest 100 percent of their money in equipment. A bigger capacity boat would also reduce their down time. Currently, they have to deliver two to three times a day because their boat can only hold up to 3,000 pounds of fish.

"If you come in to deliver, it takes at least an hour, that's just an hour we lost off the water. The thing about the fish is that once you find them, you've got to stay on top of them. They change what they do," Berry said.

Irwin said that every day the fish seem to like different temperatures and different depths of water. They move around and have a lot of different traits. He is applying all of his fishing skills learned all over the world to find better ways to fish carp in Kentucky.

The brothers are not the only ones lured to Kentucky by Asian carp. Lin Jiantong and his wife Jiang Huiying moved from Atlanta to the area to fish Asian carp about a year ago.

The couple were working in the kitchens of Chinese restaurants for a living in Atlanta. Learning about the possibility of making a living by fishing, Lin did not hesitate to try a new lifestyle. Growing up along the coast in Fujian province, Lin knows a thing or two about fishing.

"I like it much better here. I am not working in a small and crowded space. I don't have to follow anyone's orders. It is so much nicer to be in the open water with fresh air. If I don't feel like working, I take a day off. It's great," Lin said.

The couple are not catching as much carp as Irwin and Berry, but Lin said they make money equivalent to what they made in Atlanta.