Scottish Coarse Fish Species - Carp
Latin Name - Cyprinus Carpio
The Carp is one of the biggest and most impressive freshwater species in the UK. The challenge they present attracts a growing number of anglers in Scotland to specialise in catching them. Carp are long established in Scotland, probably stocked from Europe for food. There is mention of Carp on the menu of a banquet at Dunkeld Cathedral several hundred years ago.
The Scottish Carp Group have been active in recent years in promoting carp fishing and bringing more Carp to Scottish waters. Commercial fisheries are also starting to stock them so more Carp fishing will become available in years to come.
Scottish Record -
| 26 lb 4oz | 11.917 kg | Lanark Loch | C. Boyd | 1999 |
Picture & Story Of Record Fish Here
|
Weight
|
Rarely 13.6kg (30lb), few over 18.1kg (40lb) |
|
Length
|
Rarely exceed 100 cm. |
|
Age
|
Maximum 9 years |
|
Location
|
Lakes and ponds, slow-flowing rivers, very adaptable. |
|
Behaviour
|
Shoaling in small groups. |
|
Preferred
habitat
|
Dense weed, silt substrate. |
|
Feeding
|
Warm weather, bottom feeding at night, adaptable. |
|
Natural
food
|
Invertebrates, worms, molluscs and vegetation. |
|
Maturity
|
Males 3-4 years, females 4-5 years. |
|
Fecundity
|
100,000-200,000 eggs per kg of body weight. |
|
Spawning
times
|
May-July, 16-22°C, multiple spawning. |
|
Spawning
|
Dense weed, bulrushes. |
|
Migratory
habits
|
Localised spawning migrations. |
|
Predators
|
Juveniles taken by Pike and Perch. |