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Why Use a Carp Mat?
Let's start by defining what a carp mat is. A carp mat is a type of cradle made from material or mesh designed for the safe, short-term containment of fish out of water for the purpose of unhooking, disinfecting, weighing, and photographing. The mat provides protection for the fish against harmful contact with the ground such as grass, sand, stones, etc.
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There are several reasons why anglers decide to use carp mats while fishing. Here are some of the most important ones:
- A carp mat provides protection to fish while they are held outside their natural environment, which is water. Thanks to the use of special materials, it protects the skin and scales from damage and minimizes the risk of infections and diseases.
- When using a carp mat, fish are placed on a soft and safe surface which minimizes the risk of body damage especially during measuring, weighing, or photographing.
- A carp mat allows for controlled and gentle handling of fish without exposing them to stress or pain.
- Some mats offer the possibility to transport fish between water and the place where we unhook, disinfect, or photograph the fish.
Carp mats can be divided into three types:
Ground Carp Mats
The so-called ground mats are generally characterized by the fact that they do not have legs but their bottom surface touches the ground. They are made of similar materials as framed mats or inflatable mats and most of them float on water which is an advantage if we want to take a photo in the water. An example of such a mat is the Fox Easy Mat
Inflatable Carp Mats
Inflatable mats are mainly characterized by smaller transport sizes and inflatable chambers. Thanks to the inflatable chambers, the mat can float on water when we want to take, for example, a photo in the water. Most floating mats are characterized by high walls which prevent the fish from jumping out of the mat – in this respect, they are some of the safest mats for fish. Here you can check how inflatable carp mats look. An example of an inflatable mat is the Starbaits Cam Concept DLX Inflatable Mat.
Framed Carp Mats
Framed mats, as the name suggests, are placed on a frame, to which a fabric "cradle" is attached that holds the fish. Thanks to the frame, the fish does not come into contact with the ground. Most framed mats come with adjustable legs making it easier to level the mat on uneven terrain.
There is a wide range of different mats available on the market, which vary in parameters such as size, weight, type of material used, and design so everyone has the opportunity to adapt a mat to their needs or requirements of the fisheries where they fish.
In summary - carp mats are an important tool for anglers looking for ways to protect fish, minimize their stress, body damage, and care for the natural environment. A mat should be part of the equipment of every angler, not just carp anglers, as the safety of fish is always of the utmost importance!
