ABOUT US
OUR JOURNEY
As one of the best specialist carp fishing travel agents in the world, Carp Social’s beginnings date back to the early 1990’s when our founder Richard Huett first started his angling journey at the age of 4 years old on the banks of Wrights Lake in Essex.
Now with over 30 years carp angling experience, Carp Social are renowned for some of the best carp fishing holidays in the world, with many customers enjoying angling adventures abroad year after year – we’ve seen PB’s smashed, BBQ’s lit, memories shared and anglers catch the carp of their dreams.
Richard’s own passion for angling adventure continues to see Carp Social grow, providing arguably one of the vastest and most desirable portfolio of venues available to the holiday carp angler today.
WHY US
WHY CARP SOCIAL?
Carp Social exists to help anglers discover incredible carp fishing destinations with confidence. Drawing on over 30 years of angling experience, we connect anglers with unforgettable adventures, lasting memories, and the opportunity to catch the carp of their dreams.
FOUNDER
WHO'S HUEY?
Carp Social was founded by Richard Huett, whose passion for carp fishing began at just four years old on the banks of Wrights Lake in Essex. That childhood passion developed into a lifelong dedication to carp fishing, shaped by over 30 years of angling experience across the UK and Europe. As his experience grew, Richard began sharing news, insights, and advice within the angling community, often helping others choose venues and plan fishing trips. Those conversations naturally led to the creation of Carp Social — an independent service built by an angler, for anglers. Today, Richard remains at the heart of Carp Social, using decades of experience to help anglers discover great venues and create unforgettable fishing memories.
TIMELINE
1990
It all started with a young keen angler Richard Huett. His angling journey began at 4 years old during the early 1990’s float fishing for roach with his Dad on the banks of Wrights and Birketts Hall, part of the Rayleigh and District Angling club here in sunny Essex.
2000'S
At the grand age of 10 1/2 Richard recalls his first night fishing trip with his Dad to a local syndicate lake known as Century. He caught several carp including a 17lb 8oz mirror, 19lb 4oz common and PB of 25lb 4oz. These were large carp for the early 2000’s era and especially so considering Richard was only 10 1/2 years old! He was hooked!
School Holidays
School holidays inevitably involved fishing trips with David, his younger brother. One of the more notable trips was to The Carp Society ‘Carp School’ which was held at Horseshoe Lake situated in Lechlade Gloucestershire. The carp caught during the ‘Carp School’ event left a lasting impression and landed the brothers on the front cover of the Angling Times publication.
Teenage Years
During his teenage years Richard’s angling obsession evolved and he now spent the majority of his spare time carp fishing the local club lakes of Maldon Angling Society (M.A.S). Venues such a Bog Grove, Howells Lake and Totham Pit were frequent haunts and a new PB of 30lb 2oz was achieved, a fish known as ‘Willow’ which was unmistakably the largest carp in the lake at the time.
In later years Richard fished Marconi Angling Club (Three Lakes), Chigborough Fisheries and Weeley along with a number of syndicate lakes across Essex including Lake Lands, Limebrook, Braxted Park and Nowhere.
2007
Angling in the UK had been at the heart of his big fishing adventures to date. That all changed in 2007 when Richard’s Dad booked a lake exclusive family carp fishing holiday to Les Genets in France. Richard and his brother both went on to catch carp in excess of 40lbs during their first carp fishing holiday in France. They loved it!
Carp fishing holidays to a variety of venues across Europe continued in the years that followed. Richard caught French carp to 40lb and 50lb+ respectively, along with gaining a wealth of knowledge about carp fishing on the continent.
2017
In 2017 Richard joined a well known fishing brand and went on to work within the angling industry and angling trade for over half a decade. Despite a busy work life his love of catching big European carp didn’t stop.
2018
Around June 2018 a much loved carp fishing magazine ceased publication. With the increase in popularity of social media among anglers, Richard now recognised there was a gap in the market where anglers would once get their carp fishing news, latest rigs, catch reports, find carp fishing holiday venues and keep their ear to the carp fishing grapevine. Carp Social was born!
2019
In 2019 Richard then undertook a bailiff role at a recently revived Lofts Lake Syndicate, which is a 25 acre ex-gravel works located in Heybridge, Essex. It’s fair to say Carp Social took a back seat during this time as Richard was focused on building the fishery. Richard’s involvement helped re-brand the fishery, build the website and manage membership enquiries for the syndicate.
During this time he developed an amino rich feed bait which promoted healthy weight gains in the stock of resident carp. Lofts Lake had never produced a 40lber before and in a short space of time, by the Autumn of 2019, the lake contained three 40lb common carp! The skills and lessons learnt during this time period were invaluable and he gained a wealth of fishery management knowledge, bait making skills as well as an insight into the headaches and heartbreaks of fishery management.
2019
Somewhere along the way Richard struck up a friendship with Gary Bayes the owner of Bayeswater Fisheries, NG Fisheries and partner in Lyons Drove Fishery. Gary is a former British Carp record holder and has an endless knowledge of fishery management. Richard attended a number of Gary’s netting jobs and fishery work across the UK, further adding to his knowledge of fishery management whilst learning on the fly.
2020
During 2020, due to COVID travel restrictions, European fishing was put on hold so Richard rekindled a UK angling campaign at a renowned days only no publicity ‘Estate Lake’ in Essex. The conclusion of this campaign resulted in a new UK PB common carp of 52lb 14oz.
2022
With COVID finally disappearing like a hairstop in long grass, yet another father and son fishing trip was booked to Europe in October 2022. Following this trip Richard now holds a European PB of 96lb 4oz, arguably one of the largest mirror carp caught by an English angler.
The publication of these captures on social media went viral and prompted many people to contact Richard asking for advice about booking a carp fishing holiday in France and further afield. As a result Carp Social evolved. Today, as a specialist carp fishing travel agent, we put our efforts into helping anglers discover and book carp fishing holidays at some of the worlds best venues and to help anglers catch the carp of their dreams.
2023
In 2023, Richard was diagnosed with an incredibly rare airway condition affecting just 1 in 25 million men. The condition requires regular operations to keep his airway open, but rather than let it define him, he chose to channel his energy into growing Carp Social and the community that surrounds it.
Although Richard can no longer spend as much time on the bank as he'd like, his passion for angling remains as strong as ever, and he has become a strong advocate for making angling more accessible to people with disabilities. Today, he experiences the sport through the anglers who travel with Carp Social, sharing in their PB captures, unforgettable adventures, and the stories, friendships and banter that make carp fishing so special.
VALUES
THE FOUR PILLARS
ADVENTURE
We believe the best fishing memories are made by exploring new waters, discovering new destinations, and embracing the excitement of the unknown.
CONFIDENCE
We believe anglers should be able to book with confidence, supported by honest advice and over 30 years of real carp fishing experience.
SOCIAL
We believe carp fishing is about more than the fish. It's about community, friendships, shared experiences, banter on the bank, and the stories that stay with us long after the trip is over.
DREAMS
We believe every angler should have the opportunity to pursue their fishing ambitions, whether that's a new PB, a dream venue, or the fish they've always wanted to catch.
ADVENTURE
We believe the best fishing memories are made by exploring new waters, discovering new destinations, and embracing the excitement of the unknown.
CONFIDENCE
We believe anglers should be able to book with confidence, supported by honest advice and over 30 years of real carp fishing experience.
SOCIAL
We believe carp fishing is about more than the fish. It's about community, friendships, shared experiences, banter on the bank, and the stories that stay with us long after the trip is over.
DREAMS
We believe every angler should have the opportunity to pursue their fishing ambitions, whether that's a new PB, a dream venue, or the fish they've always wanted to catch.
THAT'S WHY
WE'RE MAKING WAVES
We're on a mission to grow Carp Social into a community of like-minded anglers with a drive for discovery and a passion for angling adventure. We want you to enjoy your carp fishing holidays at some of the world’s best venues, catch the carp of your dreams and create memoreis that will last a lifetime.
OUR MISSION
It is our mission to grow Carp Social into a community of like-minded anglers with a drive for discovery and a passion for angling adventure. We want you to enjoy your carp fishing holidays at some of the world’s best venues, catch the carp of your dreams and create memories that will last a lifetime.
SUPPORTERS
A special mention to our friends and supporters at DFDS, Wise, AllClear Travel Insurance, NG Fisheries, Toll Pits, Blasford Hill, Bayeswater Fisheries, Lyons Drove Fishery, Lofts Lake, Halcyon Pool, Total Fishing Tackle, Mainline Baits, Ridge Monkey, CarpOdeon, M.A.S Maldon Angling Society, Lucy’s Bowl, Cotswold Baits and more…
VISION
To be Europes fastest growing specialist carp fishing travel agent harnessing social and web to help anglers discover and book carp fishing holidays.
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