Carp Fishing

Background

Although a very popular sporting fish, the carp accounts for a huge percentage of the annual aquaculture production around the world. The carp is a native of the Caspian Sea and its distribution is widely associated with the Romans. It is a hardy fish, and tolerant of a wide variety of environmental conditions it can survive pH levels as low as 5 and as high as 10. It is classed as a warm-water fish and begins feeding reasonably well at a water temperature of 10C, with its optimum growth occurring at around 25C. Cyprinus carpio is found in five main genetic varieties, namely the wild, common, mirror, linear and leather carp.

Wild Carp

The wild carp is the original form of carp and its distribution around the world can be traced back thousands of years. All of the carp mentioned below are mutations of this fish and have evolved through the continued crossbreeding practices of fish farmers. The wild carp is very long and streamlined in appearance and very rarely grows above the weight of 101b. It is distinguished by its slender flanks and the lack of a 'hump' towards the top of the head. The fish is stronger, possesses 20 per cent more red blood cells and has a higher blood sugar level than the domesticated carp. Although originally widely distributed, the fish is not commonly found in our waters today.

Common Carp

The common carp, as we know it, is the nearest descendant of the wild carp. Fundamentally speaking, the common carp is genetically different to the 'wildie' through the possession of an inherited recessive trait connected to growth. When compared with the mirror, leather and linear types of carp, depending on the environment it is subjected to, the common carp has been scientifically proven to have the best growth rate (rate meaning increase and not potential size). All of the other types are mutations of the common and this is the main reason why most common carp live longer, are hardier and have very few deformities when compared with the others.