Words by Dave Charley

There has never been a better time for dam owners to develop an environmentally sound fishery which will be financially successful.  Carp Fishing is a smart choice for clever land management.

South Africa is idyllic for Carp Fishing

South Africa’s climate is ideally suited for carp, allowing for enormous growth (over 50kg’s), and the sport is experiencing exponential growth worldwide, but especially in SA. For dam owners, even smaller venues (just a few acres), there lies a depth of potential in the depths of your waterways. Cleverly stocked and properly cared for, your dam could offer impressive returns on your investment, becoming a valuable source of alternative income. 

Carp fishing is the fastest growing angling sport in SA. In a couple of decades, the sport has gone from just a handful of dedicated anglers to nearly 200,000, and this matches what we’re seeing globally. Today, carp are the most sought after species for recreational anglers in Europe. In the UK alone, freshwater angling has become an industry that generates £1.4 billion (R 31,000,000,000) annually. 

When you combine this growing sport, perfect growing conditions and SA’s dominance in outdoor tourism, you’ve got a winning triumvirate that translates to a huge potential for profit. 

Transforming a dam into a profitable Carp Fishing Venue

A new phenomenon is emerging in SA, the proliferation of private dams dedicated to specimen carp fishing.  Carp anglers will often fish for several days straight, so the security of a private venue, rather than potentially dangerous public dams, is highly sought after and creates a profitable business opportunity for dam owners.