Tournament aimed at lowering carp populations

FRANKFORT, Ky. (AP) — Kentucky is inviting fishermen to put their angling skills to the test at a carp tournament next month.

The Carp Madness Tournament will have teams of commercial anglers compete to catch the growing population of Asian carp in two of Kentucky’s largest and most popular fishing lakes.

Five teams that bring back the highest poundage of fish will split $20,000, with a top prize of $10,000.

The Kentucky Department of Fish and Wildlife Resources is putting together the event for March 12-13 at Kentucky and Barkley lakes in western Kentucky.

Ron Brooks, fisheries director for Kentucky Fish and Wildlife, says Asian carp are a threat to native species and habitats. He says the carp compete with other fish for the plankton, a key food source.

Copyright 2013 The Associated Press.