Well it has taken some time, but we are confident that we have a strain of fish that will offer greater flexibility for fishery managers. Whatever style of fishery you are developing you can now ‘engineer’ your stocks to a greater degree with the option of combining or stocking exclusively with each strain.

Our new ‘match venue’ fish, we have named them 2o8 (two o eight) carp (simply as this is the year we are launching them) should compliment any commercial style fishery. We have our own lakes stocked with some of these carp and it has taken us over four years to streamline the process to ensure a slower growing, durable fish that does not ‘out grow’ any lake too quickly.

In addition these fish are able to spawn upon maturity, typically at about two years old, and have as long a life span as any other carp. They are not ‘genetically modified’ or crossed with other species, ensuring a totally pure British reared carp. The emphasis has been to develop fish that are as near to what nature intended but, as in horseracing circles, streamline the breeding process to encourage certain genes and characteristics.

The essential elements required from our customer feedback has been for a slightly slower growing fish that will be competitive in all conditions, have a longer life span than hybrid fish, will not ‘out grow’ a lake, is not ‘genetically modified’, and is not ‘crossed’ with other species to ensure the integrity of the carp. In addition the need to reduce the threat of viral diseases (KHV etc.) has been highlighted by CEFAS and the Environment Agency, and we do not import or inoculate fish. In addition ‘F1s’ can only be stocked into landlocked waters, where 2o8s can be stocked into any lake.

So the key factors, without getting too scientific or complicated, are that we have concentrated on producing mainly male fish (but not all males), females tend to grow larger quicker. Concentrating mainly on common carp, we have selectively reared each generation through our fisheries, and are now confident that the brood stock is compatible with today’s commercial style fisheries. As can be seen from our own lakes even winter weights of carp in matches are comparable to most as the fish continue to feed in colder conditions. The growth rates are reduced but sustainable even in highly stocked waters and these fish will provide sport for the long term.

So whatever your requirements in respect of stock fish we can now provide from extremely attractive pedigree carp, mirrors and commons, or the new strain of commercial carp, 2o8s.
In respect of prices we are offering the 2o8s at the same price as our normal carp for the current limited stock. We currently have 2o8s in stock from 6” to 1lb.