Carp

Spotlight on carp, including feeding, conditions, location for fishing

Originating in Europe and Asia, the carp is found worldwide residing in a wide variety of waters.

Carp are distantly related to goldfish, with which hybridisation is possible. Carp can grow to large sizes in ideal conditions, with a maximum weight of 82lb 2oz and length of 4 feet. They also reach considerable ages, with 47 years being a recorded example. True wild carp tend to be more slender, weighing in at approximately 20 - 33% lighter.

Variety

There are several varieties of cyprinus carpio. Thanks to selective breeding specimens can be observed to have fewer scales, or even be scale-less, these varieties are dubbed Mirror Carp and Leather Carp respectively and originate in germany. Other varieties include koi, which are ornamental fish originating in China. A variety of koi which is pale in colour is nick-named Ghost Carp or Ghosties.

Conditions

Carp are found in a wide selection of fresh and brackish water, although they thrive best in still or slow-flow waters rich in natural food and vegetative sediments with an ideal pH of 7.0 - 7.5 and temperature range or 3°C to 24°C. Carp are however very tolerant as a species, and very hardy.

Diet

The natural diet of Carp consists of vegetable matter, such as weed, insects and crustaceans. A true omnivore, carp will also eat dead fish and are also reported to eat spawn produced by other fish. Anglers baits have become increasingly influential to the diet of carp, in particular pellets and boilies, which are nutritious by design. In terms of bait, carp can be caught on a wide range of offerings, from maggots through seed baits to worms or bread.

Reproduction

Carp spawn usually around May/June time in the UK. The fish seek out warmer, usually shallow water preferably with weed. An adult fish can release 300,000 eggs during a spawning session, which are fertilised by the milt of male fish. In many waters, including some gravel pits, carp are known to be unsuccesful with reproduction.

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