Syracuse.com - Wild Carp Week kicks off this weekend along the Seneca River

[HuntingNY-News]

The marquee event is the Wild Carp Challenge, which begins at 10 a.m. Sunday and ends at noon Tuesday. Nick Lisi/The Post-StandardAngler Steve Clow (left) photographs his partner Dan Pazio with the 32lb 3oz carp he caught on the Seneca River during the 2009 carp fishing tournament. Both were from Nowalk, Conn.Competitive carp fishing returns to Baldwinsville this weekend with the start of Wild Carp Week.This year’s event, again hosted by Wild Carp Companies, will feature five carp-angling tournaments in seven days.The marquee event is the Wild Carp Challenge, which begins at 10 a.m. Sunday and ends at noon Tuesday. A total of 45 two-person teams will fish for 50 hours, rain or shine, at predetermined sites (pegs) along the Seneca River.Tournament co-directors Jason Bernhardt and Sean Saua said teams are coming from 11 states, Canada and the United Kingdom. The team catching the fish with the most total weight will earn $5,400 and a $600 voucher toward entering next year’s event. Other cash prizes will be awarded for the largest fish and the big four (total weight of the four biggest fish).Last year’s overall winning team was Bogdan Bucur and Mihai Aciu, of Chicago, with 84 carp and a total weight of 1,509 pounds.The entry fee this year for the Wild Carp Classic is $600 per team.The week’s schedule continues with the JGB Triathlon, which consists of the Big Carp Challenge, the Big 4 Challenge and the Total Weight Challenge — all individual contests. The entry fee on each day is $125.The Big Carp Challenge, schedule for 6:45 a.m. to 4 p.m. Wednesday, will test the angler’s ability to target big fish, with cash prizes paid out on an hourly basis.The Big 4 Challenge, set for 6:45 a.m. to 4 p.m. Thursday, will award cash prizes for the cumulative weight of the four largest carp caught during the day.The competition will wind up on Friday with the Total Weight Challenge, also set from 6:45 a.m. to 4 p.m. Cash prizes will be given to the top angler with the most overall weight of carp caught during the day. Immediately following this competition, Wild Carp Companies will crown its U.S. champion, based on points accumulated during the JGB Triathlon.Opening ceremonies for Wild Carp Week are set for 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday at Mercer Park in Baldwinsville.Also on Saturday, local celebrities — meteorologist Wayne Mahar investigative reporter Jim Kenyon, Baldwinsville mayor Joe Saraceni, professional magician Wade Live and myself — will team up with local carp fishing professionals and compete against other to see who can catch the biggest carp. We’ll be fishing from 11 a.m. to 1:30 p.m.All celebrity anglers will win a share of $10,000 awarded by Wild Carp Companies, which will be awarded to the charity of each angler’s choice. The top prize is $3,000.For more on Wild Carp Companies and Wild Carp Week, go to the event's Web site.

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