This video gives new meaning to the concept of fishing. According to the video's Youtube description, this footage was taken in 2010 while boating down a drainage ditch near Spoon River in West Central Illinois. A group of kids accompanied by some older men are overwhelmed by an influx of Asian Carp that jump out of the water as their boat goes by.
Amidst squeals and lots of laughter, the group is bombarded by jumping Asian Carp, many of which land inside their boat. The YouTube description also reports that by the end of their boating trip, the group counted over 70 fish inside the boat, all weighing between five-ten pounds. The haul is pretty astounding considering that the group never actually fished in the traditional sense.
Since being uploaded, this video has accrued over four million views on YouTube. For many, the footage is unlike anything they've ever seen, but for others more familiar with Asian Carp, the footage is not only familiar, but also somewhat disturbing.
Asian Carp are a species of fish considered highly invasive in the U.S. According to the Michigan Department of Natural Resources, the fish pose a serious threat to native species of fish in the U.S. as they invade natural habitats and impact food chains other domestic fish rely on. Asian Carp are a serious threat to the Great Lakes, and a huge source of frustration to fisheries and fishermen who set out to catch other fish.
According to ABC News, Asian Carp can weigh up to a whopping 70 pounds and grow to four feet long. ABC also explains that the fish are disturbed by the sound of motors so they leap out of the water in fear, making them incredibly easy to catch.
Check out the video and tell us what you think about the footage and the influx of Asian Carp in the comments!
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