COMMON CARP, Cyprinus carpio
 Family Cyprinidae

 

Identification.
Carp have scales on their bodies but none on their heads. There is a long-based dorsal fin with a concave free edge, and a stout spine with serrated rear edges as first ray) The mouth is toothless but with two barbels on each side, the second one longer.
Carp coloration is variable. Wild fish are usually greenish brown on top, and yellowish underneath.

History
Carp were introduced into the UK from Asia probably by the Romans, and later kept by monks for food in monastery ponds known as “stews”. There is a lot of discussion over whether there were ever wild carp in the UK, or whether the Common Carp found in the wild, known as “wildies”, are feral versions of the domesticated carp. If there were wild carp, by now they will probably have thoroughly interbred with the introduced varieties.

Habitat.
Carp inhabit large lakes and slow flowing rivers in lowland areas. Native carp who live in rivers are slender bodied compared with the fat, artificially reared specimens. Carp love deep muddy water with a lush growth of weed

Food.
Carp feed on vegetation and bottom living insect larvae, snails, crustaceans and worms.

Breeding.
Carp breed in late spring in shallow, sun warmed areas where there is dense vegetation. Carp eggs and newly hatched young are attached to the plants.

Statistics.
Carp can be found in most still waters and some rivers. The current UK record is 64lb 14oz (all varieties). It has a long life span of 40-50 years.

Varieties
There are three recognised varieties of Cyprinus carpio, Common, Mirror and Leather Carp

The Common Carp is easily identified by regular scales over the whole of its body. They have an orderly scale pattern and slender bodies, but those bred in captivity and well-fed have a more rotund body shape.

The Mirror Carp is identified by irregular scales dotted haphazardly over its body. Anglers have subdivided the patterns of the scales into easily identifiable descriptive patterns. Fully-scaled Mirror Carps are completely covered in scales of different sizes. Mirror carp generally have a fuller and more rounded shape than Common Carp. Some Mirror carp are rounded in the shape of a dinner plate. A large swollen belly is not uncommon in larger specimens. The colours in a Mirror Carp are dependent on the water in which it lives. Gravel pit carp can be almost black, whereas those found in clay ponds can be a light gray or brown with large areas of red, orange or gold coloring.

The Leather Carp is completely devoid of any scales, but some have scales along the dorsal line and at the wrist of the tail. The anal fin often has fewer rays and the dorsal fin is often imperfect.

 

Ornamental Carp
Family Cyprinidae

The two most notable ornamental carps are Goldfish and Koi. Goldfish and Koi have been developed from different species of carp, and although they can interbreed, their offspring are sterile.

Goldfish (Carassius auratus) were domesticated from the Prussian Carp (Carassius gibelio), and were kept as ornamental fish in China for hundreds of years before being introduced to Japan in the 15th century, and to Europe in the late 17th century. Goldfish tend to be smaller than Koi, with a tremendous variety of body shapes, and fin and tail configurations.

Koi (Cyprinus carpio carpio), are a domesticated variety of Common Carp (Cyprinus carpio). They also originated from China and spread widely in Japan. The word Koi comes from the Japanese word for Carp. Varieties of Koi tend to have the same body shape, but a greater variety of coloration. They also have prominent barbels on the lip.

Some goldfish varieties, such as the Common Goldfish and Shubunkin have body shapes and coloration that are similar to Koi, and can be difficult to tell apart from Koi when immature.

Ghost carp or Ghost Koi are the same fish and are carp hybrids, the result of a cross between a metallic Koi and a Common Carp, producing fertile offspring. Many are bred in the UK, so they are often hardier than Koi and already used to British weather. They range in colour from pale cream, through to black with varying amounts of orange or metallic flecking on the scales. Over the last decade, Ghost Carp or 'Ghosties' have also shot to the top of the list of most carp anglers. They are known to be much harder fighters than other carp and to catch a large Ghost is often viewed as more of an achievement than a large common or mirror.

 

Crucian Carp Carassius carassius
Family Cyprinidae

The Crucian Carp is debatably given a species status, Carassius carassius, because it easily hybridises with both Common Carp and Goldfish, and Brown Goldfish, with which it can be easily confused. For this reason, it is difficult to determine the actual distribution of this species in the UK. Several fine specimens have been caught at Lower Lakes.

History
Although its origins are unsure, The Crucian Carp is believed to have been present in the UK since the 18th century, when it was imported from Germany. Its original 'roots' are probably found in the rivers feeding the North Sea, Baltic and Black Sea.

Identification
Dark golden bronze colouration makes the Crucian Carp an impressive looking fish. It is easily distinguished from a small Common Carp by the absence of barbels, the slender, whiskerlike tactile organs found near the mouth of certain fish. Other characteristics of the Crucian Carp are a lateral line count of between 31-26, and a convex dorsal fin with a weak leading ray, although many of these features will be shared with hybrids.

Habitat
The Crucian Carp thrives in small ponds and overgrown waters where larger members of the carp family would not find enough food or oxygen to thrive.

Food
Crucian Carp are not fussy eaters except that when they are very young they feed only on planktonic crustaceans. When fully-grown they will eat almost anything in the water such as insect larvae, crustaceans and lots of water plants. Crucian Carp are mostly bottom feeders but can also be found feeding at other levels and, on very sunny days, will take food from the surface.

Breeding
Crucian Carp spawn mainly on water plants around May-June. The eggs hatch within a week but the fish stay attached to the plants for two to three days to feed on the yolk sack before swimming off.

Statistics
Maximum Weight: 7lb (3.2kg)
Maximum Length: 18in (46cm)
Average Weight Caught: 8oz (226g)
Life Span: 15 Years

Habits and fishing tips
The most popular baits to catch Crucian Carp are Maggots, Casters, Luncheon Meat and Sweet Corn.