Abstract
A carp angler survey indicated that specialised carp anglers used on average 215 kg groundbaits (mostly cereals, nuts, beans, boilies) per year which corresponded to a mean annual gross P‐input of 1018 g P angler −1 . A feeding experiment was conducted with juvenile carp fed with a random sample of the main bait types used in coarse angling to estimate the nutritional quality and P‐retention efficiency. The investigated groundbaits had a rather low nutritional quality. Based on the examined P‐retention efficiencies, the net annual P‐input was calculated to be 839 g P per angler. To counterbalance this P‐input, an annual harvest rate of 175–225 kg carp biomass per angler would be necessary. Thus, under certain conditions, a substantial contribution by carp and other coarse angling to the P‐loading is likely. Further studies on the issue of groundbaiting are needed to develop guidelines for more effective management of coarse angling.