Do not care if they are a "pest"      that is one classy looking fish, great colours 

and all well n good if they're in an area they can't escape from but I've seen the damage they do in the eastern states and they really should be pushing up roses. 

 I'm originally from UK where I fished for Carp. That smaller fish is a mirror. Over in UK and parts of Europe carp fishing is a huge multimillion dollar business in which the carp is revered, I think it would be a shock for most Aussies!

 worked in the uk and Europe and fully understand than an individual fish can be worth up to £10000 however the rivers and dams are a heavier clay base than over here where with the way a carp feeds it lifts the silt and causes erosion and reduces the oxygen in the water. They are just as bad as any other introduced species to our environment which costs billions to our economy not millions.

 I have heard of the fishery in the UK that's actually what gave me the idea. Nice to hear it's a mirror, that fish was on my list just didn't think I would tick it off in Aus

I am fully aware of the problems these fish can cause here but these are in a small land-locked body of water, if this area flooded they would end up in the ocean. Good luck surviving in there.

I am quite sure the upper reaches of the canning have them too which is a big problem for the system

 Them with care. If they get in our rivers and dams. Goodbye. Good fun to catch thou:):)

Holey dooly that is a hell of a size, what do they fight like.
As I've said before I think the councils/shires are missing out on a few dollars by not allowing fishing in the man made lakes etc around the newish estates, just think of the fun that could be had on those lazy summer afternoons.

No, come to think of it the councils/shires wouldn't like its rate payers to have fun with an area that there rates help to upkeep.

 Actually fight extremely well the large red one put on an aerial show. I think it's a bit hypocritical to call them pests. As long as they are contained in a single body of water ie;man made lakes and ponds they can't do any damage. In the meantime fisheries are stocking introduced rainbow and Brown trout into our rivers and dams, but that's ok because "people like trout".

dont damage the river banks and cause clouds of silt to lift and flow out to sea , neither do they breed as successfully as carp do, not bagging you out mate but I would recommend doing a bit of research on the subject. 

unfortunately in the world we live in hypocrisy is everywhere

 Need to put a fence around that pond so you can hang the fish on once caught!!!

There's a lake in Landsdale with a gazebo over the water and some easy 600-700mm models cruising around. The old pricks in the retirement village next to it call the Rangers the second some kids try to get anywhere near the lake with a rod

Awesome man. I love finding out whats in the lakes around perth. Pull bloody hard on light line. Did you use bread for bait?

 I too am excited to see what else lurkes in perth lakes. Fought like all get out. Yeh small pieces of bread or corn on ultra light leader and tiny hooks. 

 where's fishinguy? He'd love this post 

 Only takes one knob head to let pair go in dam river . All over Luke. Clear ponds and streams turn to sludge. Councils should go around every pond and kill them around our area. Great to catch . Leave them on bank. But instead when Rangers catch you fishing in ponds they want to fine you. Wtf . At least you can eat Redfin . Top looking fish . 1000 times worse than any vermin on planet, only my thoughts on matter kill them:):):)

 Agree john 

I put them in a similar class as the bloody cane toad....major f*#k up !!

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It's best to keep mum about such catches.

 I knew they would get this reaction but still wanted to share for the people who would be interested. Yes they are feral but I couldn't bring myself kill these fish when they have their own little swamp that not many other fish could survive in.

They are legal to keep and buy in WA so as long as that is the case there will be people buying them and throwing them into our body's of water. Until that changes killing a few of these fish is futile

Its the European Carp that is the big pest in the eatern states rivers not Chinese Koi Carp. The Koi Carp have been found in many SW waters but dont seem to be able to breed up in any great numbers so IMO are not the great pest they are made out to be. People will keep moving these fish into water ways until the Fisheries Dept creates some new freshwater fishing opportunities for Wester Australians. Australia has some great native freshwater sport fish but none are stocked into any of out SW impoundments, why? I'm pretty sure if Perth people could go up to some of the dams in the Perth hills to target Murray Cod, Bass or Golden Perch the translocation of these Goldfish about the place would probably come to an end.

 Mud marlin, swamp spaniards...etc

And everyone has a opinion however the bigger issue is the nsw fisheries department is planning on releasing a virus called KHV or koi herpes virus into the Murray River hoping to kill all the koi in the river another cane toad fix if they release this virus we all know that happens when alot of fish die in a small area the decaying bodies fouls the water and the other fish start dying.

 Fishing. Droughts no dought caused most of our dramas. Our trout stocks in wa are crap. Wild trout ( not brood stock) few and far between. Not enough stocking now days . Waroona was mint ( then Redfin invasion.  Logue brook was fantastic fishing. Best of all was old Sampson dam. Wild big fish .all dams had great natural breeder streams. And all where also stocked well. Longer trips to Pemberton where fantastic . Top end off Donnelly river ,all off warren river . Always could get a good feed of big wild trout. Nice pink  to orange colour flesh.even leafroy was good. Now we wait for crap brood stock to be let go. Harvey dam still has some good wild Browns about the only one now. We are miles behind other states in freshwater fishing. Sad because it craps on saltwater fishing. Nothing beats camping , nice camp fire. Great fun. Some private dams are good . My main point is where is all the money going now from freshwater Lic fees. Surley not old out of condition concrete trout ??( white flesh . No taste crap)

 I cannot fathom why we cannot manage our freshwater dams and lakes with stocked fish. It would be a huge drawcard for tourism. I have never quite understood why dams cannot be used for recreation, be it sailing, kayaking , fishing etc. All across Europe they are used for watersports & also used for scheme water for our use. Why is it so hard over here? Maybe someone can enlighten me but the water will get treated before we ue it so where is the problem?

A fair point with stocking of trout in the SW which will eat small native species however this is deemed acceptable!