We the undersigned request that action be taken by the Indiana State Legislature and the Indiana Department of Natural Resources Fish and Wildlife Department to recognise and classify Cyprinus carpio (the Common carp) along with its subspecies,Cyprinus carpio specularis (the Mirror carp), Cyprinus carpio nudis (the Leather carp), Cyprinus carpio regularis (the Linear carp), and Cyprinus carpio macrospecularis (the fully scaled Mirror carp) as a Sport Fish in Indiana. In the state of Indiana no other species of fish is as widespread and as abundant than the common carp. “Carp are found in virtually every Indiana watershed, lake and stream. Where carp are common, they typically account for more than half the fish biomass.” (As cited in a 2008 written document by Bill James Chief of Indiana Fisheries Division of Fish and Wildlife). There formidable size and there explosive fighting power are but just two reasons why they are gaining popularity not only in Indiana but nation wide. Most “sport” fisherman will tell you that pound for pound, carp are one of the hardest fighting freshwater fish. “They clearly have a sport fishing value.”(As cited in a 2008 written document by Bill James Chief of Indiana Fisheries Division of Fish and Wildlife) Carp fishing is gaining more and more fishermen every day through publicity and education thanks to groups like Carp Anglers Group of America (CAG) the American Carp Society and our own Hoosier Carpers organization. Fishermen in the U.S. and Indiana now seem to realize how challenging and exciting carp fishing really is. This gaining popularity is having many states taking a second look at this misunderstood fish. Pennsylvania, Ohio, North Carolina, and West Virginia have carp specifically listed under there sport fish species, while Tennessee, Maryland and Minnesota lists carp among there sport fish species but do not specifically state they are. In Austin Texas on Lady Bird Lake, the Texas Parks & Wildlife Department has imposed regulations allowing anglers to only keep one fish over 33 inches a day, but no daily limit on anything under that size. This proposed rule change would promote carp as an untapped fishing opportunity, particularly for bank fishing in an urban area. The first of its kind in Texas. As you can see from these facts, carp fishing has the potential to add a new dimension to the sport of angling in Indiana and could someday rival bass as the most popular freshwater sport fish. So I ask why hasn’t this fish been recognized as a sport fish in Indiana yet? After all the chief of Indiana Fisheries Division of Fish and Wildlife stated that they clearly have sport fishing value. That should be reason enough. If you agree that Cyprinus carpio and its sub-species should be classified and recognized as a sport fish in Indiana, then please make your opinion known by signing this petition. When complete, this petition will be delivered to the Indiana State Legislators and the Indiana Department of Natural Resources Fish and Wildlife Department for there consideration.