Common Carp
name: Common Carp
other names: German Carp, European Carp
A heavy-bodied, laterally compressed fish with a long dorsal fin and arched back. The first ray of the dorsal and anal fins is a stout, serrated spine. The small triangular head tapers to a blunt snout. The small, protrusive mouth contains no teeth and is located below the snout. There are two pair of Common Carps on the upper jaw. Body colour is generally bronze or gold on sides. The belly is yellowish white. Fins typically are yellow, orange, golden, or light olive in colour. Common Carp are covered in neat rows of unbroken scales. This fish typically gets its name from the abundance of this species when first introduced as the Mirror and Leather carp had not yet been cross bread, hence the name Common Carp,
Common carp are extremely adaptable fish. They can tolerate a wide range of temperatures (up to 96-degrees). This adaptability allows them to dominate many bodies of water that they inhabit, that range from large flowing rivers, cannels, natural and man made lakes. Common carp will prefer soft bottom areas such as muddy grasses or sand. Although they will congregate near deep-water drop-offs, they prefer to inhabit shallow waters and many a time you will hear them sucking at the backside Vegetation.
Carp are omnivorous feeders, taking both vegetable and animal matter in their diet. Aquatic insects, crustaceans, and small molluscs make up the bulk of their forage. They are particularly fond of tender roots and shoots of young aquatic plants and often "root-up" large quantities of vegetation and silt in their search for food. In commercial waters carp have become reliant on anglers bait who can introduce large quantities of particles or high protein boilies. Carp feed both during the day and night, however on pressured waters carp naturally feed during the quietest times normally at night.
In captivity carp have lived as long as 47 years, but in the natural wild environment the true age is still unknown. Carp generally grow rapidly for the first few years until they reach sexual maturity and then slows as energy is diverted into reproduction. Growth rates of carp vary considerably across the world which may reflect geographical, biological and environmental conditions at different locations. Another consideration effecting the carp’s growth is food availability. In some commercial waters where the stocking is not high but anglers regular introduce large quantities of bait the growth rate is increased. However in poor managed fisheries where the stocking levels are to great even though anglers are toping up the natural food with their bait the carp can not increase its growth rate. Angling Direct Holidays makes sure that all your holiday destinations are from manageable sustainable fisheries.
Pound for pound, carp will put up a fight equal to most sport fish. In Europe, carp rank third among sport fishes behind Atlantic salmon and rainbow trout. Carp are powerful and can grow quite large so appropriate tackle is required. Carp can be caught on a wide range of tackle which really depends on the situation. As in blue water game fishing there is an increasing trend to fish with lighter sporting tackles. On each Angling Direct Holidays tour page is detailed what tackle is recommended for these locations. Methods also vary from match angler’s pole fishing, specialist anglers using baits on the surface (Floater fishing) to the most sophisticated bottom rigs including variations of the famous bolt and hair rigs. The choice basically is endless.
