Catching Lake Sorell's last few carp will be like finding a needle in a haystack, the agency tasked with the job says.
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However, the Inland Fisheries Service carp eradication team is determined to do that in the coming warm season.
The IFS said reduced catch rates last season strongly suggested the introduced pest fish were close to being eradicated from the Central Highlands lake.
"Despite increasing the amount of netting effort above the last few seasons, only 39 carp were caught," the IFS said in its carp management program annual report for 2018-19.
"It is now estimated that less than 20 carp remain.
"This coming season, the team is motivated to maintain the high level of fishing pressure, despite the likelihood of even lower catch rate.
"A range of fishing techniques will continue to be used to ensure all sizes of carp are removed from the lake.
"In addition, there will be an equally important emphasis on stopping spawning."
It said most of the remaining carp would hopefully have been caught by the end of spring.
December was the most successful month last carp season.
The program had removed 41,491 carp from the lake since 1995.
That included a high of 14,481 in 2009-10.
Carp captures decreased sharply in every season since then and last topped 1000 in 2014-15.
No carp were caught in nearby Lake Crescent in 2018-19, despite continued sampling and monitoring.
The IFS said it had not seen carp in Lake Crescent since 2007.
Four carp "sightings" were reported around the state, in 2018-19, but none turned out to be carp.
One of the reports actually involved goldfish at a golf course.