This thread brings back fond memories of my childhood in New Jersey. We lived across the street from a small lake/pond that masquaraded as such but was actually a ditch for chemical and sewage runoff from the upstream cities and towns. It was disgusting and in the right light the surface glowed the beauty greens and blues of an oil slick.

For two or three years we had carp population explosions, they being the only living thing in the water except for mosquitos and a few snapping turtles. We kids made spears and had quite a heyday then gave up on what demanded skill and went to bent-hook garden forks and merely gaffed them off the bank for some meaningless but enjoyable bloodsport. Sure was fun, though we quickly got out of breath holding it due to the stench of chemicals and the after effects of the upstream population's last meals.

How carp survived in that cesspool I have no idea, but after those big numbers they dropped fast and we went back to fishing them and occaisionally we caught some that were then subjected to firecracker sandwiches and experimentations with M80's until the cops were notified and we had to go back to air rifling squirrels in the seclusion of our backyards.

Carp at the table. No thanks, if only because I always associate them with the combined smells of aromatic hydrocarbons, the spewing of industrial runoff and somebody's last tummy ache...