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I know I should, but I just can’t yet

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Illinois

* I am in no way or fashion a picky eater, but I’ve seen Asian carp up close and personal and it’s gonna take more than a name change to get that vision outta my head. But, hey, if it works, more power to them. Here’s Paris Schutz…

At the end of this month, Illinoisans will no longer hear the words “Asian carp.” After several years and hundreds upon hundreds of millions spent trying to keep them from the Great Lakes, how can that possibly be?

And why does this news have environmentalists and the state’s commercial fishing industry swimming in, or leaping with optimism?

Dirk Fucik says he’s discovered seafood cuisine that could one day be more popular than tilapia: Asian carp.

“It’s healthier than tilapia. Tilapia is omega 6 instead of omega 3, so you get a lot less benefits of health from tilapia,” Fucik, the purveyor of the popular North Side seafood spot Dirk’s Fish and Gourmet Shop.

To prove his point, Fucik spent a recent Saturday afternoon grilling up some creative carp cuisine in the parking lot of his store, from carp Cuban burgers, to carp tacos, to regular old smoked carp. But despite the accoutrements, the Asian carp is not yet a bestseller.

The state is supposed to announce the new name in a few weeks. Any suggestions?

posted by Rich Miller
Tuesday, Jun 8, 21 @ 1:52 am

Comments

Why not “Mississippi Carp”

Comment by Nick Tuesday, Jun 8, 21 @ 2:02 am
So did we land the, uh, the tuna

Comment by TradedUpForMitch Tuesday, Jun 8, 21 @ 6:35 am
Abraham Lincoln

Comment by Al Tuesday, Jun 8, 21 @ 6:49 am
Illegal Alien Carp or Flying Carp

Comment by Pacman Tuesday, Jun 8, 21 @ 6:54 am
Krap Karp

Comment by Pius Tuesday, Jun 8, 21 @ 7:02 am
Fishy McFish

Comment by South Suburban Observer Tuesday, Jun 8, 21 @ 7:04 am
China vir… uh I mean fish.

Comment by Bruce( no not him) Tuesday, Jun 8, 21 @ 7:29 am
New Carp

Comment by Tommydanger Tuesday, Jun 8, 21 @ 7:33 am
I thought they already renamed them Silverfins. Did I imagine that?

Comment by Captain Obvious Tuesday, Jun 8, 21 @ 7:37 am
Well, they are bottom feeders and have the potential to cause significant economic damage if not stopped. Plus nobody wants them at dinner.

So… eastern bloc republicans?

Comment by TheInvisibleMan Tuesday, Jun 8, 21 @ 7:43 am
Lake Rats

Comment by fs Tuesday, Jun 8, 21 @ 7:43 am
Illinois Lobsters.

Comment by Keyrock Tuesday, Jun 8, 21 @ 7:44 am
Yeah, this fish was already re+ branded as “Silverfin” back in the Rauner administration.

Had a buddy who just loved carp sandwiches, back in the day. Like catfish, which people love, it’s all in how you de bone and prepare it.

That Biden infrastructure money should send some funds into a better carp barrier on the Illinois river.

Comment by Give Us Barabbas Tuesday, Jun 8, 21 @ 7:52 am
Pracnaisa

Comment by Skeptic Tuesday, Jun 8, 21 @ 7:53 am
Carpe de Forgottonia (since they were/are common along the Illinois River in the Havana and Bath areas).

==Well, they are bottom feeders and have the potential to cause significant economic damage if not stopped. Plus nobody wants them at dinner.

So… eastern bloc republicans?==

Sorry, Havana and the carp-filled area of the Illinois River is more like Western Bloc.

Comment by EssentialStateEmployeeFromChatham Tuesday, Jun 8, 21 @ 7:58 am
carpe asiatique, now instead of river trash it is a French delicacy.

Comment by former southerner Tuesday, Jun 8, 21 @ 7:58 am
Carpe Dujour

Comment by We'll See Tuesday, Jun 8, 21 @ 8:05 am
Had to google image search for this answer but it jumped out at me immediately.

Loweye. Evokes the Sockeye salmon which people love to eat and their eyes are on the bottom thirds of their face which is just bizarre.

Comment by Commisar Gritty Tuesday, Jun 8, 21 @ 8:08 am
I took a page out of Former Southerner’s book from 7:58 am. Let’s call it Argent, which is French for silver. People might order a fried argent sandwich, or argent tacos or smoked argent. I could see that being on a menu.

Comment by Can Tuesday, Jun 8, 21 @ 8:21 am
Fishious delicious.

Comment by Three Dimensional Checkers Tuesday, Jun 8, 21 @ 8:21 am
==Let’s call it Argent, which is French for silver. People might order a fried argent sandwich, or argent tacos or smoked argent. I could see that being on a menu.==

Will argent be added to the Long John Silver’s menu? (Even if as a “limited time only” item).

Comment by EssentialStateEmployeeFromChatham Tuesday, Jun 8, 21 @ 8:25 am
Chicken

Comment by DuPage Saint Tuesday, Jun 8, 21 @ 8:28 am
@Essential, I think that’s a splendid idea (banned punctuation).

Comment by Can Tuesday, Jun 8, 21 @ 8:30 am
“Let’s call it Argent,” Seems like that’d be a good band name. Oh, wait…

Comment by Skeptic Tuesday, Jun 8, 21 @ 8:30 am
@ Captain Obvious -

No, you did not imagine that: https://www.pbs.org/newshour/nation/if-you-cant-beat-em-eat-em-university-of-illinois-serves-invasive-asian-carp-for-dinner

Comment by JoanP Tuesday, Jun 8, 21 @ 8:34 am
Bruce Rauner

Comment by Shield Tuesday, Jun 8, 21 @ 8:37 am
I can’t decide between “SpinCarp” and “RemainCarp”

Comment by Not a Superstar Tuesday, Jun 8, 21 @ 8:42 am
It was already re branded back in Rauner’s term as “Silverfin”. Conservation did a bunch of marketing of it. There was a program to harvest it for institutional food programming.

How about we spend some Biden Bucks on better carp barriers on my rivers, before they ruin Lake Michigan?

Oh, I forgot; it might inconvenience the barge companies. So, never mind, let it all go to heck….

Comment by Give Us Barabbas Tuesday, Jun 8, 21 @ 9:00 am
Southern Bass

or

Blagoafish

Comment by OneMan Tuesday, Jun 8, 21 @ 9:01 am
its all about marketing and eliminating the term of “carp” as most of white america would thumb their noses at it based on the name and not the taste

Comment by truthteller Tuesday, Jun 8, 21 @ 9:03 am
McPhish Philet?

Bone Phish?

These fish are so desperate to be your dinner that they jump right into the boat.

Wouldn’t eat it on a dare.

Comment by 47th Ward Tuesday, Jun 8, 21 @ 9:03 am
Gourmet Carp

Comment by Levois J Tuesday, Jun 8, 21 @ 9:04 am
Wild-Caught Organic Mercury Free Lake Cod

Comment by ChicagoVinny Tuesday, Jun 8, 21 @ 9:12 am
Take a page out of the Chilean Sea Bass book and call it Peruvian Bass.

Comment by twowaystreet Tuesday, Jun 8, 21 @ 9:19 am
McMadigan filets

Comment by Rudy’s teeth Tuesday, Jun 8, 21 @ 9:31 am
Fishtzker

Comment by Moved East Tuesday, Jun 8, 21 @ 9:38 am
I second “Argent” but alternatively:

Escarpgot - because it sounds gross but tastes good

Comment by South Side Lawyer Tuesday, Jun 8, 21 @ 9:45 am
Seriously. If you’ve ever tried boneless fried silverfish you’ll know what I mean. Very good.

Comment by Blue Dog Tuesday, Jun 8, 21 @ 9:46 am
whatever they call them, calling them carp now totally mischaracterizes the fish….they are NOT bottom feeders. they are top feeders so this fish feeds clean. Prairie Fish.

Comment by Amalia Tuesday, Jun 8, 21 @ 9:47 am
It’s also great bait for trapping yotes or raccoon.

Comment by Blue Dog Tuesday, Jun 8, 21 @ 9:47 am
Silver Fin

Comment by Rutger Hauer Tuesday, Jun 8, 21 @ 9:50 am
Going with Can’s suggestion “Argent”.
Thinking a good marketing slogan for “Argents”:
If you can’t
Beat-’em
Eat-‘em.

Comment by Back to the Future Tuesday, Jun 8, 21 @ 9:54 am
Many fish farms that raise salmon and other highly desirable fish must feed those fish. They use a fish meal often obtained from bait species like menhaden, that other wild ocean fish depend on. Why not harvest Asian Carp for processing into fish meal for commercial fish-farming feed? Surely there is someprofit in that.

Comment by Terry Salad Tuesday, Jun 8, 21 @ 9:58 am
Carp Adiem

Comment by May soon be required Tuesday, Jun 8, 21 @ 9:59 am
I am reminded of two things:
1. Louisiana trying to make a big thing of Nutria, even as far as getting Paul Prudhomme to develop recipes for it. I don’t think that effort included a new name for the giant rat.

30 years later, that effort survives in two vectors: Russians are crazy for Nutria burgers, and they make a delicious dog treat.

2. I still call it Sears Tower, I don’t care what the name is this week.

Comment by We've never had one before Tuesday, Jun 8, 21 @ 10:00 am
Asian carp are neither top feeders nor bottom feeders.

They are bottom of the food chain filter feeders, thus a threat to all native fish.

The same as “Bighead and silver carp are filter feeders, straining tiny plants (phytoplankton) and animals (zooplankton) out of the water. By eating plankton, the carp compete with native filter feeding fish, such as lake whitefish, as well as the young life stages of many fish species such as walleye and yellow perch.”

https://www.michigan.gov/documents/dnr/Asian_Carp-Fact_Sheet_398004_7.pdf

Comment by Glenn Tuesday, Jun 8, 21 @ 10:12 am
What a bunch of carp…

Comment by low level Tuesday, Jun 8, 21 @ 10:18 am
Dirk Fucik has a great shop. And he’s the brother of lobbyist Patrick Fucik, the popular lobbyist from T-Mobile (formerly Sprint).

Comment by Anon 10:19 Tuesday, Jun 8, 21 @ 10:19 am
Just fry it up, call them “Lincoln Chips,” and hope for the best.

Rich: You gotta try some of these carp recipes. I haven’t tasted a bad one yet.

Comment by NIU Grad Tuesday, Jun 8, 21 @ 10:21 am
How about carpe diem for “fish of the day” on the menu?

Comment by Glenn Tuesday, Jun 8, 21 @ 10:22 am
“Prairie Fish”

Actually, I like this. Or, combining with someone else’s comment above: “Prairie Lobsters”

Comment by NIU Grad Tuesday, Jun 8, 21 @ 10:22 am
Kaskaskian Harp Fish.

Comment by Al Tuesday, Jun 8, 21 @ 10:39 am
Squid Pro Quo

Comment by Colin O'Scopy Tuesday, Jun 8, 21 @ 10:40 am
Asian Pacific World Crap
“Take a bite out of them before they take over the freshwater world”

Comment by PC Correct Tuesday, Jun 8, 21 @ 10:54 am
Make America Fish Again Tuna

Comment by Teddy Salad Tuesday, Jun 8, 21 @ 11:00 am
The Trump Fish. Guaranteed to have at least 40% of the population eating it up.

Comment by Norseman Tuesday, Jun 8, 21 @ 11:02 am
New Chinese overlord mandated food source.

Comment by Teddy Salad Tuesday, Jun 8, 21 @ 11:04 am
Grand Ditch Foul

Comment by vole Tuesday, Jun 8, 21 @ 11:07 am
Poisson Des Plaines

Comment by Tear One Tuesday, Jun 8, 21 @ 11:13 am
You could rename it after former Governor Pat Quinn since it is always hanging around in places it doesn’t belong no matter how many times you tell it to go away.

Comment by A Jack Tuesday, Jun 8, 21 @ 11:14 am
Carpy Mc-Carpface

Comment by lake county democrat Tuesday, Jun 8, 21 @ 11:18 am
Soylent Silver.

Comment by IllinoisBoi Tuesday, Jun 8, 21 @ 11:24 am
The Asian Carp might as well be the official state fish.

Comment by Bass Boat Tuesday, Jun 8, 21 @ 11:30 am
Guaranteed Rate Fish

– MrJM

Comment by @misterjayem Tuesday, Jun 8, 21 @ 11:32 am
Cat food

Comment by DuPage Tuesday, Jun 8, 21 @ 11:36 am
Horse carp

Comment by AlfondoGonz Tuesday, Jun 8, 21 @ 11:59 am
The James R. Thompson Sea Bass

Comment by Roadrager Tuesday, Jun 8, 21 @ 12:01 pm
Accardo (aka ‘Big Tuna’)

Comment by Jocko Tuesday, Jun 8, 21 @ 12:08 pm
Rock Island Soul.

Comment by meter reader Tuesday, Jun 8, 21 @ 12:10 pm
China Carp

Worked for covid, right?

Comment by ArchPundit Tuesday, Jun 8, 21 @ 1:00 pm
Carp that if they develop opposable digits they will kill us all. Kinda long I know.

Comment by ArchPundit Tuesday, Jun 8, 21 @ 1:02 pm
I vote for Eastern Bloc.

Comment by anon2 Tuesday, Jun 8, 21 @ 1:11 pm
The other white meat.

Comment by Frank talks Tuesday, Jun 8, 21 @ 1:51 pm
How about Argent Loweye Carp or the High Jumping Carp

Comment by Mana Tuesday, Jun 8, 21 @ 1:54 pm
Any name that includes “carp” is a non-starter. As is any association with the Illinois River.

Comment by Huh? Tuesday, Jun 8, 21 @ 2:11 pm
Boat jumper

Comment by Cheswick Tuesday, Jun 8, 21 @ 2:16 pm
Prairie Fish or with sponsorship Prairie Farms Fish

Comment by Vote Quimby Tuesday, Jun 8, 21 @ 2:23 pm
We Don’t Want No Carp Nobody Sent.

Comment by Six Degrees of Separation Tuesday, Jun 8, 21 @ 3:56 pm
Dang, someone beat me to Trump Fish. So how about Trumper Jumper.

Comment by Don't Worry, Be Happy Tuesday, Jun 8, 21 @ 4:03 pm
Unless it tastes likes Halibut or Cod I’m not eating it no matter what name they give it. I do think Quimby’s Prairie Fish has a nice ring to it, though.

Comment by Responsa Tuesday, Jun 8, 21 @ 4:06 pm
Lake skippers

Comment by Rabid Tuesday, Jun 8, 21 @ 5:04 pm
Chillicothe sea bass

Comment by Hyperbolic Chamber Tuesday, Jun 8, 21 @ 5:34 pm
Carpe Dems

Comment by PublicServant Tuesday, Jun 8, 21 @ 7:46 pm
Beardstown Ladies

Comment by Excitable Boy Tuesday, Jun 8, 21 @ 10:02 pm