Site banner of U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service staff electrofishing

Are you using Asian carp as bait? Michigan's new video helps you find out

The Michigan Department of Natural Resources has developed a video to assist anglers and the general public in identifying juvenile Asian carp. Juvenile Asian carp can be confused with common baitfish – such as gizzard shad, emerald shiner, spottail shiner, or golden shiner. Because bait is often transported across state lines, including from areas where there are populations of Asian carp, it would be easy for juvenile Asian carp to make their way into the bait supply without anyone realizing it. This video showcases five characteristics viewers can use to distinguish between juvenile Asian carp (bighead and silver) and common baitfish. These characteristics include color, scales, eyes, mouths and keels.

Juvenile Asian carp identification