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Carp Fishing Guides

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Recently Booked Carp Fishing Guides

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A Certified Damn Good Guide is someone who goes above and beyond to show you an incredible experience on your trip. Guides earn this badge through quality reviews, quick and responsive communication, and low cancellation rates.
Fishing in Plantation

Lake, River Fishing Trip in Plantation

Ft. Lauderdale Bowfishing And Gigging Trip

100% (2)
22 ft 1 - 6 People $
Damn Good
A Certified Damn Good Guide is someone who goes above and beyond to show you an incredible experience on your trip. Guides earn this badge through quality reviews, quick and responsive communication, and low cancellation rates.
Fishing in Liberty Hill

Lake, River Fishing Trip in Liberty Hill

Central Texas Bowfishing

100% (2)
18 ft 1 - 6 People $$
Damn Good
A Certified Damn Good Guide is someone who goes above and beyond to show you an incredible experience on your trip. Guides earn this badge through quality reviews, quick and responsive communication, and low cancellation rates.
Fishing in Houston

Lake, River Fishing Trip in Houston

4-Hour Bowfishing Trip

100% (1)
21 ft 1 - 8 People $$
Fishing in Austin

Lake, River Fishing Trip in Austin

Carp On The Fly - Austin, TX

100% (1)
1 - 2 People $
Fishing in Waco

Lake Fishing Trip in Waco

Texas Bowfishing Bonanza

NEW
22 ft 1 - 6 People $$
Fishing in San Antonio

Lake Fishing Trip in San Antonio

Calaveras Lake Freshwater Reds

100% (1)
25 ft 1 - 5 People $

Most Popular Types of Carp Trips

“Our Damn Good Guides go above and beyond to provide you an incredible trip, and we’ve handpicked every single one. We’re passionate about the outdoors and about empowering people to find the perfect-match guide for the trip of a lifetime, every time.”

Jonathan and Attison   |   Co-founders   |   Austin, Texas

More Carp Fishing Guides

Fishing in Austin
Fishing in Austin
Fishing in Austin
trip description for Euro Carp Trip - Austin, TX in Austin

Head out for a day trip friends, or a night trip after work to hook into some freshwater freaks of nature, and prepare yourself for a fishing experience unlike anything you've ever seen before! Pound for pound some of the hardest fighting freshwater fish, and giants at that, are waiting for you inside Austin's city limits, and our team has a unique and incredibly efficient method for getting you hooked up! “Euro” Carp fishing is a bait fishing technique with European gear that is specifically engineered for catching giant Carp, and can also be used to target Smallmouth Buffalo (in the Fall and Winter months). This gear can’t be purchased anywhere locally. Infact, there is only one retailer in the across the United States, and that's merely an online shop out of Oklahoma! 12 ft rods, big pit reels for playing large fish, and casting up to 100 yards are the first marks of this unique freshwater gear. Each setup also comes with bite alarms that sound when a fish takes, and a reel set to free spool allowing the fish to run until you get to the rod. Then comes the challenge of playing a freshwater giant, on a #6 hook, all the way to the net! From there the fish is handled very carefully, unhooked, weighed, photographed, and finally released. All of the gear is centered around fish care. They provide landing mats that allow you to unhook the fish without it harming itself from thrashing and a sling that allows us to safely weigh and release the fish. Our team has got you covered with all the gear you didn't even know you needed! So all you need to bring is your Texas Fishing License and your A-Game and our team will take care of the rest! Read More

Lake, River Fishing Trip in Austin

Euro Carp Trip - Austin, TX

100% (1)
1 - 2 People $
Fishing in Austin
Fishing in Austin
Fishing in Austin
trip description for Carp and Buffalo on the Fly in Austin

If you've ever wanted to nail big Carp on tiny dry flies, this trip is for you! Although when many fly anglers think "fly fishing", they're picturing Trout somewhere in the Rocky Mountains, Riley specializes in finding and hooking lowland species such as Carp and Bass. Catching a carp on the fly is hard at first, which is why your guide loves them, and he would love it even more if he could help you get on one yourself! When you go out with one of the guides to chase these feisty specimens you can expect to spend your day wading around lakes and river systems stalking your quarry stealthy and precisely. These fish are very aware of their surroundings, and you get no second chances. It’s either a perfect cast and presentation or the fish spooks, and often, the latter. When they do eat, however, you’re can bet your bottom dollar they're going to take you out to the backing! Certain times of the year, you can also target smallmouth buffalo on the fly, which grow even larger than carp, and are actually indigenous to Texas waters. Teaching trips are also welcomed for folks that have never held a fly rod. If this trip is more in line with your skill level, you can expect it to be more centered around the fundamentals, rather than finding and catching a fish, but it won't be too long before your out to the backing on a giant carp as well! Read More

Lake, River Fishing Trip in Austin

Carp And Buffalo On The Fly

NEW
1 - 2 People $
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A Certified Damn Good Guide is someone who goes above and beyond to show you an incredible experience on your trip. Guides earn this badge through quality reviews, quick and responsive communication, and low cancellation rates.
Fishing in Berlin
Fishing in Berlin
Fishing in Berlin
trip description for Eastern Shore River Bowfishing in Berlin

If you've never experienced the action of nighttime bowfishing, this trip might be for you! Captain Greg has thirty years of experience helping his clients whack fish on the rivers around The Eastern Shore, and he knows exactly where all the local hot spots are. You can target a range of species on this trip, so whether you're aiming to fill your cooler, nail a trophy fish, or both, Captain Greg has got you covered. The species you're most likely to see on this nighttime adventure are Carp, Gar, and Snakehead—an invasive species of predatory freshwater fish originally from East Asia. All of these fish are active at night, and make perfect bowfishing targets! You'll be shooting from the deck of Captain Greg's 26' Long Beach custom, which sports three individual engines—a 115 HP Suzuki, plus two 25 HP kicker engines—as well as a trolling motor to sneak up on your quarry. She's a shallow-draft boat, which allows you to cruise around the shallow flats with ease. This vessel also has a Cobia tower, which is extremely useful for spotting fish at night. There's no need for sunglasses, hats, or sunscreen on this night trip—just bring a smile and get ready to shoot some fish! Read More

River Fishing Trip in Berlin

Eastern Shore River Bowfishing

NEW
24 ft 1 - 4 People $$
Fishing in Granbury
Fishing in Granbury
Fishing in Granbury
trip description for Brazos River Luxury Overnight in Granbury

Get out there on one of Texas' most scenic rivers for a two-day, one-night overnight fly-fishing adventure! Your guide, Ben, is a terrific angler and a master instructor who knows this water better than almost anyone. Whether you're a season fly fisherman or looking to up your game, this trip is perfect for you. Unlike most fly-fishing trips that target Trout, Ben specializes in catching Bass on the fly. In addition, you'll be able to chase bites from tons of freshwater species, including Catfish, Crappie, Gar, Drum, and more! These fish are a blast to fight on a flyrod, and can really help improve your casting technique, hookset, and more. On this overnight trip, you'll be treated like a king, with three meals a day, excellent camping accommodations, and a tailored experience that you can make all your own. Breakfasts and lunches will be light to keep you moving, but dinners are extremely hearty, with pork osso buco, venison barbacoa, and tons of other game-forward meals on offer. In addition, wine and liquor of your choice are available! Give us a call and let us help you book the Texas fly-fishing trip of a lifetime! Read More

River Fishing Trip in Granbury

Brazos River Luxury Overnight

NEW
16 ft 1 - 6 People $$$
Fishing in Granbury
Fishing in Granbury
Fishing in Granbury
trip description for Brazos River Drift Trip in Granbury

Enjoy this trip on one of North Texas' most beautiful rivers—the Brazos. You'll be in a perfect place to catch over ten species of freshwater sportfish, all while surrounding yourself with some of the best scenery this part of the state has to offer. From November to February, Texas Parks and Wildlife stocks this section of the Brazos with Rainbow Trout, so you can get a Rocky Mountain fly fishing experience without having to leave the state. This trip is a great "mixed bag" adventure, and because Bass, Trout, Gar, Cats, and Crappie all eat some of the same bugs, you never know what species is going to blow up your fly! Wade trips are also a great way for you to work on technique by receiving specific, one-on-one instruction from a professional fly fishing guide. Your guide, Ben, will provide everything you need for an epic trip, including rods, reels, tippet, and flies. The fish are biting—what are you waiting for?! Read More

River Fishing Trip in Granbury

Brazos River Drift Trip

NEW
14 ft 1 - 3 People $
Damn Good
A Certified Damn Good Guide is someone who goes above and beyond to show you an incredible experience on your trip. Guides earn this badge through quality reviews, quick and responsive communication, and low cancellation rates.
Fishing in North Kingstown
Fishing in North Kingstown
Fishing in North Kingstown
trip description for Kayak Fishing in North Kingstown

We are proud to be Rhode Island’s first kayak fishing charter service! Anglers can choose a freshwater trip or a saltwater trip. Everything is included in the price of booking besides your fishing license. All trips are done in pedal driven kayaks so that you can keep your hands free! On saltwater trips you can expect to target striped bass, bluefish, false albacore, Bonito, Tautog, summer flounder, Black Sea bass, Weakfish, and a few more. While on freshwater trips you can expect to target largemouth bass, carp, crappie, and trout. Most trips start at first light however sometimes due to weather/water conditions a trip might need to start later in the day. While we can never guarantee fish quantity or size, what we will guarantee is that you’ll get a great experience for what kayak fishing is all about, you will master the techniques used throughout the day, and you will have great knowledge of the fishery. We look forward to seeing you on the water! Read More

Inshore, Lake, Nearshore, River Fishing Charter in North Kingstown

Kayak Fishing

100% (1)
12 ft 1 - 3 People $
See All Carp Trips

Everything to Know About Booking a fishing trip

What are the best carp fishing trips?

Our Damn Good Guides currently offer 18 carp trips, and the most popular trips are Ft. Lauderdale Bowfishing and gigging Trip guided by Michael, Central Texas Bowfishing guided by Randy, and 4-Hour Bowfishing Trip guided by Mark.

Our guides are rated a 5 out of 5 based on 2546 verified reviews on Captain Experiences.

All guides on Captain Experiences are licensed, insured, and vetted by our team. You can access their reviews, click through trip photos, read bios to get to know them, and preview trip details like species, techniques, group sizes, boat specs and more.

Looking for kid friendly carp guides / fishing lessons? Check out our beginner and family friendly carp guides.

What types of carp fishing trips are common?

River fishing is the most popular for carp as well as lake fishing, nearshore fishing, and inshore fishing.

The most common fishing techniques are fly fishing, bowfishing, and sight casting but wading and artificial lure fishing are popular as well.

How much does a carp fishing trip cost?

for carp prices can range anywhere from about $318 to $1,200, but the average price for a half day trip for carp is $653. The average price for a full day trip for carp is $1,509.

What month is best for carp fishing?

The most popular season for carp fishing is spring, and most anglers book their trips 22 days in advance.

Do I need a fishing license for carp and what are the bag limits for carp?

See here for more information on carp fishing licenses, carp bag limits, and fishing season regulations for carp. When in doubt, your fishing guide will always know the right carp rules and regulations.

What is a Carp?

Carp (Cyprinidae) are a family of oily, toothed, and scaly fish that’s third anterior-most pair of ribs touches the swim bladder. There are many species within this family, but the ten most common that are most often referred to colloquially just as “carp” are the silver, common (European), grass, bighead, crucian, Catla (Indian), mrigal, black, and mud carp, as well as steeplerush.

Originally native to Europe and Asia, these freshwater fish are considered invasive in North America, Africa, and Australia. They were originally stocked in these places due to their popularity for eating in Europe and Asia, as well as for their ability to be domesticated, as in common carp for goldfish and koi. However, they have not reached popularity among anglers in these areas.

They are a very hardy species, making their invasion challenging to control. They can withstand very dirty and brackish water and can tolerate very low levels of oxygen. Some species can even withstand water with essentially no oxygen by metabolizing glycogen which eventually converts into ethanol and carbon dioxide that is released back into the water through their gills.

How big do Carp get?

There is quite a lot of variance in size amongst the ten most commonly mentioned species of carp. The largest in terms of length is the bighead carp, which is averagely sized at 23 inches. The smallest is the grass carp, which only grows to an average of just over four inches.

However, carp tend to grow quicker in length than they do in width and weight. Because of this, the silver carp comes in as top dog, with reports maxing out over 100 pounds. However, the average silver carp caught is closer to 18 pounds.

What's the biggest Carp ever caught?

Although there have been reports from all over the world of carp being caught and weighed at over 200 pounds, like John Harvey’s 232 pounder caught in Thailand. The IGFA holds a different weight and species for the largest of the carp.

According to them, the carp king title is held by Jesse Hughes, who pulled the record out of the Osage River near Bonnots Hill, Missouri. It was a black carp, weighing in at 112 pounds and 5 ounces, caught on March 4th, 2021.

Where is the best place to catch Carp?

Carp can be found on every continent except Antarctica. The common carp, which is the most popularly angled species of carp, can be found in lakes, inlets, and ponds on all of these continents. They can be found in water temperatures ranging from 35 to 85 degrees but prefer over 73.4 degrees when possible.

Within these waters, they tend to stay along the bottom, coming to shallower waters during fall and spring and back to deeper water in the summer, which is about 8 to 12 feet deep.

When should I catch Carp?

Spring and fall are the best time to target carp, as that is when they come to the shallows to feed and congregate in large schools to spawn. They can still be targeted in summer and winter. However, during the summer tend to move back into deeper waters, and in the winter, they become lethargic.

During the spring and fall, early morning is the best time to fish for carp. You can usually spot them surfacing while feeding on insects. Look for muddied water and a wake on the surface caused by their movement.

How do you catch Carp?

Carp are well known for their strength, making them fun fish to test your fighting skills. Depending on the size of the carp you are targeting, be sure to use seven to ten weight on a nine-foot rod. Also, depending on the target weight are hooks, which you can vary between #4, #6, #8, and #10 circle hooks.

Be sure to avoid using anything metallic, and don't move your rod around too much as they are easily spooked. All you have to do is make a quick cast, sit down, and wait for the fish to take your bait.

Speaking of bait, there are many recommendations on what to use to catch them, including store-bought "magic" carp bait. The secret that the best carp fisherman knows is that there is a favorite bait among the carp, and it comes straight from your kitchen.

This essential bait and chum combo are simply homemade dough balls, called boilies, and boiled or canned corn. Every carp fisherman will have their own special recipe for boilies that they'll swear by. However, the most simple is to mix yellow cornmeal, quick-cook oatmeal, sugar, and water together, cook and knead it, then roll into balls and cool. Then simply pop that on your hook after chumming the water with canned corn, and you are ready to go.

Are Carp good to eat? What are the best Carp recipes?

In North America, carp are known as a trash fish. However, in areas of Europe and Asia, it is viewed as a delicacy. In China, the top three fish produced from aquaculture are grass, silver, and common carp. In fact, they hold 70% of carp production. The weight of carp produced via aquaculture exceeds all other types of fish produced worldwide, including trout and salmon.

Aquaculture-produced carp are then distributed all across Asia and Europe. In Central Europe, countries like Hungary, Austria, Germany, and Poland use carp in traditional Christmas time dishes. In Western Europe, it is viewed mainly as a sport fish. However, it is used in a common Jewish dish called gefilte fish.

Although, as I mentioned, North Americans tend to view consuming carp with disdain, many do not realize that caviar, eaten as a garnish or spread, and considered a delicacy, is commonly consisting of carp eggs.

The most commonly used recipes for carp usually include the carp prepared in one of three ways; fried, pickled, or poached. The most basic fried carp is cutlets battered in flour, breadcrumbs, seasoning, fried in oil, and served with lemon. To pickle, simply soak the carp in a brine of vinegar and water until it’s lost its pink, and then let marinate in a mixture of the brine, onions, and seasonings for at least a day. Finally, to poach, place the carp in a fish roaster with sautéed vegetables, lemon juice, seasoning, butter, wine, and fish stock, and let simmer for 30 minutes.

Recent Reviews of Captain Experiences

  • ★★★★★
    Absolutely fantastic. Cory and Kevib wer both great.

    Dale K. with Kevin O. of Austin, Texas

  • ★★★★★
    Very satisfied with the trip we did with Mark. He was very knowledge and worked hard to get us in the fish. Very personable with a great attitude, and the supplied gear worked great. Would not hesitate to book with him again!!!

    Jason H. with Mark M. of Houston, Texas

  • ★★★★★
    Had an amazing trip with Dustin. He was patient, knew the best spots and had a great sense of humour. Will definitely be booking with you again the next time I'm in the states.

    Paul D. with Dustin S. of North Kingstown, Rhode Island

  • ★★★★★
    I had a great time caught lots of had a wonderful day. The Captain was fantastic

    Joe L. with Travis F. of San Antonio, Texas

  • ★★★★★
    Awesome trip. Captain Randy put us on fish all night. Super helpful. Anything we needed he was right there to help. Great time. See you again soon.

    Curtis B. with Randy H. of Liberty Hill, Texas

  • ★★★★★
    Randy is a great guy, got me and my 9 year old on plenty of fish. Couldn’t recommend him enough!

    Braxton Z. with Randy H. of Liberty Hill, Texas

  • ★★★★★
    Very good trip! Got a ton of different species of fish and alot more that got away. Guides were fantastic!

    Chad P. with Michael O. of Plantation, Florida

  • ★★★★★
    Kevin is a great guide and super passionate about putting you on your biggest fish. Mother nature worked against us on my trip but I was still able to learn a lot about fishing in Texas as I’m new here. Even though the bite was hard and we got snunked I would go out again with Kevin with full confidence.

    Grizz J. with Kevin O. of Austin, Texas

  • ★★★★★
    Trip was fun captain Mike was good at explaining how to shoot and getting us plenty of opportunities to try and get fish.

    Anthony C. with Michael O. of Plantation, Florida

What's biting?

View Carp Fishing Reports from our damn good guides.

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