We are impacted by the State of VA orders to stay home until mid-May.  We are taking these orders seriously for our saftey and yours.  We have a small window to sell carp in the spring, as it gets too hot in early June to handle fish.  We are evaluating how to respond, and we understand you want answers soon.  I will post again with updated plans.

We plan to begin deliveries in May this year, but that start is always contingent on weather.  We will update this decision in April.

We have finished up for the year.  Thanks for your business.  We will reopen in April 2020.

We had a great fall stocking season, despite the warmer than normal weather in September delaying our shipments a few weeks.  We had many customers who have never seen so many weeds in their ponds.  This is due to the low rainfall and hot days, which are ideal for weed growth.  Hopefully this won't be repeated next year. 

 One of the highlights of the year was hearing from two different customers that they had a couple carp live up to 19 years and 20 years.  While this is unsual and should not be expected, it's great news to share.  These fish were upwards of 40 inches and 30-40 lbs.  It is known that the older the fish are the less they eat, but it was clear the folks were happy to have had these senior fish with them so long.

We are winding down now, with only one scheduled shipment left this year before we close for winter.  Our next shipment will be along the I-64 corridor from Staunton to Williamsburg on Oct 24. 

Thanks to all our 2019 customers for making it one of our top 3 best years of sales.

 

We have just completed our spring stockings, and due to unusually warm temperatures, we will not be getting in more fish until September 2019.   There was strong demand for carp, and many customers are saying that their weeds were thicker than normal this year.  Thanks to all my customers, and to VA DGIF for processing al their permits quickly!  Have a good summer.

Happy New Year!  We are currently taking orders for carp.  Our plan for the spring is to mostly deliver fish to central points across the state or directly to your property for a fee based on distance and time to acclimate and stock the fish in your pond or lake.  The facility in Deltaville does not allow us to have customers pick up at his time, but we hope to be built out by fall.

We will be leaving Fairfax VA after 21 years in northern Virginia.  Our new facility will be completed in early 2019, in time for spring stocking.  

I'ts been a big year, with most fish sales since we started in Fairfax in 1995.  Next week we will have fulfuilled all outstanding orders.  We will be closing the operations and transition to maintaining tanks after October 21.  If you have not picked up your fish, you will be contacted shortly.  Thanks to all for a successful stocking season, and we will see you next year startig in April.

I am getting a shipment of carp in Thursday, and will begin PICKUP orders in Fairfax for NOVA customers. Pickups in Fairfax through the weekend.  Saturday Sept 29 after 10 am will take me to Warrenton, Culpeper, Charlottesville, and Staunton.

Tuesday Oct 9 will focus on the Richmond East and Chester areas.

Tuesday Oct  16 will complete orders in Williamsburg, Gloucester, and Topping

 Please call if you have questions. 

This year's abnormally high temperatures have reduced our spring stocking season by a couple weeks, so we will not be selling carp again until mid to late September. 

We know that weeds are most problematic in the summer, however handling carp in hot weather brings on health problems, and the stress of transport and introduction to ponds further increases these conditions.  Warm water during transport holds less oxygen, so keeping the water cooled to under 65 degrees is best, but many ponds are now over 87 degrees or even higher if your water is dark.  Therefore, fish must be slowly brought to pond temperature, or the stress can be fatal.  As the fish warm up during acclimation, they become much more active, and often the jumping and bumping into their tank mates causes them to lose protective scales.  Since our fish are GUARANTEED 5 days, we just don't take chances with known fish health problems.

 While we could sell a lot more fish this time of year, customers would likely be less satisfied with the results.

 

 

I will deliver limited large orders on Thursday and if I have returned to Fairfax early enough Thursday, I may be available for evening pickups in Fairfax by appointment- likely not before 4 or 6 PM.   Friday beginning at 8:30 AM I will be filling scheduled pickups in Fairfax, all day by appointment only.  I expect to run out of stock, and the next shipment will be about two weeks from now.  Several customers have been waiting over two months, so if you just placed an  order, you may need to wait for the next shipment.   Look for an email from me or call for further details.  I am sorry if I cannot return all calls promptly, but I will get to them soon.  Thanks, Carl

We have sold out and the next shipment is expected between May 18 and 25.  Our earlier stocking were very successful and I enjoyed meeting all of the customers.  Please get your permits submitted to VA Game and Inland FIsheries at https://www.dgif.virginia.gov/fishing/private-pond-management/triploid-grass-carp-stocking-for-aquatic-vegetation-control/

We will have fish through the end of June if weather doesn't get too hot. 

 

This week we opened and started filling orders that have accumulated since winter.  We only have 24 left now and will be getting more in a few weeks- probably about May 15.  It's hard to estimate an arrival time, since we have to have several hundred on order to get a shipment in, and we are about half way there now.

I get this question all the time.  The answer is usually "now", when you realize you need them.  If weeds are still growing, then don't wait, carp will begin to work immediately. 

If you have the luxury of being able to plan ahead, like during the winter when weeds don't grow much, there are times when you can stock carp more reliably:

1.  Stocking April to mid-June assures the fish will be there and are healthy for the worst of the weed season.  Thus, its my first choice for "the best time to stock".  

2.  My second choice would be end of September to end of October.  This time period assures they will be there in the early spring when weeds start to grow- even if that is in February!  If you have a alot of winter and spring flooding or water going over a dam without a fish barrier, then late spring may be best.

Hot summer months are the times to avoid.  In my opinion, carp should not be handled in VA from the end of June to the middle of September because higher water temperatures are more conducive to pathogens that weaken carp and increase stress, and warm water holds less oxygen than cold water.  Netting and tranpsorting causes stress and if fish are not strong when doing so there can be problems.  But once carp are established in your pond, they are very strong and can endure ice-covered ponds and those that warm up to over 90 degrees. 

We appreciate your business in 2017.  The warm winter and hot weather contributed to fast aquatic weed growth, which thereby drove demand. 

We are closed for the year, reopening in the April 2018 timeframe.  If you want carp in 2018, please wait until VA DGIF posts the new years permits, then apply.  We will supply fish as soon as we get enough orders to warrant opening, likely in April.