Carp know-how

Unhooking mat: how to handle carp safely

A wet, deeply padded unhooking mat protects a carp's slime coat from hard ground and injury. Some clubs and fisheries make one compulsory in their rules, and it makes sense on every water.

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What you need

A large, well-padded unhooking mat or cradle sized for the fish you target
A big landing net with soft, knotless mesh
A bucket of lake water for re-wetting
Forceps for removing the hook
A weigh sling with handles and zips at both ends, plus scales
A carp care kit with antiseptic for hook holds and lifted scales
A priest and knife for any fish you keep
A thermometer to check water temperature in hot weather

Step by step

Get everything ready before you get a take: mat on flat ground away from gravel, brambles and stones, a full bucket of lake water, sling, scales, camera and forceps to hand.
After the fight, let the fish rest in the net in deep water and secure the net while you get ready.
Soak the mat and sling completely with fresh lake water, not water that has warmed up in a bucket in the sun. Only handle the fish with wet hands.
Unhook in the water if you can. Otherwise never lift the fish in the net mesh alone: slide a wet sling under it, check the fins lie flat and carry it to the mat.
Remove the hook with forceps rather than your fingers and check the mouth and body for damage.
To weigh, zero the scales with the wet sling, hang them vertically and lift only until the sling clears the mat. Stay over the mat the whole time.
For photos, kneel behind the mat and hold the fish low over it, one hand under the pectoral fins and the other near the anal fin. If it kicks, lower it straight away and pour on more water.
Treat hook holds and any wounds with antiseptic, ideally after the photos.
Fish you return (where the rules allow or require it) go back in the sling: hold them upright in the water until they swim off under their own power. Fish you keep should be stunned and killed straight away.

Common mistakes

Laying a fish on a dry mat: it strips the protective slime and leaves the fish open to infection.
Taking photos standing up: a fish dropped from that height can be badly hurt. Kneel and keep it just above the mat.
Holding the carp in a towel: it rubs the slime off its flanks.
Leaving the fish alone on the mat to grab the camera or scales.
Taking your time in hot weather: warm water holds less oxygen, and a fish after a long fight needs it badly. Keep time out of the water to a minimum.

Tips

Keep the fish in the net or a floating sling in the water while you set up the camera and zero the scales, and only lift it out once everything is ready.
On a sloping bank a cradle with raised sides is safer. A flat mat must sit level or a kicking fish can slide off.
A partner or a tripod for photos means you never have to leave the fish unattended.
Rinse and dry your mat, sling and net between waters: check, clean, dry stops you spreading disease.
A thermometer tells you when hot conditions call for extra speed and care.

Check the rules

Size limits, closed seasons, night fishing and aids such as bait boats are set by the local rules and the fishery. Carp rules in the overview

Quick answers

Is an unhooking mat compulsory?

That is down to each water: some clubs and fisheries require one for carp in their rules. Read the rules where you fish, and use a wet mat anyway.

Why does the mat need to be wet?

A dry mat strips the slime layer that protects the fish from disease. A wet mat is gentle on the skin, and fresh lake water keeps the fish cool.

How high should I hold a carp for a photo?

As low as possible, kneeling directly over the wet mat, never standing. If it slips, it only drops onto the padding.

How do I weigh a carp properly?

Wet the sling and zero the scales with it, lay the fish in with its fins flat and zip it up. Lift just clear of the mat with the scales hanging vertically.

More carp know-how

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Last checked 2026-10-25. Found a mistake? Write to [email protected].

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