Carp

Carp is a widespread term for a variety of freshwater fish of the Cyprinidae species. It is an outsized group of fish originally from Eurasia and Southeast Asia. All cyprinid fishes and the family Cyprinidae are commonly called as the carp genus. Carp has been considered as one of the most essential food fish to humans and it’s one of the main grounds why this species have been introduced to various countries, not just in Europe and Southeast Asia but also in North America and all over the world.

The Common Carp, which actually these days isn't the most common to catch

In conversational use, on the other hand carp more often than not refers only to several larger cyprinid species such as cyprinus carpio (common carp or European carp), carassius carassius (Crucian carp includes common carp and smaller minnows), ctenophharyngodon idella (grass carp is also known as White Amur), hypophalmichthys molitrix (silver carp a variety of Asian carp), and  hypophalmichthys nobilis (bighead carp also an Asian carp and at the same time it’s a highly invasive species in the US).

This species is hardy, resilient with greenish brown body that looks quite attractive. It is a large-scaled fish with two barbels on each side of its higher jaw. This kind of fish prefers to live alone or in small schools in quiet, weedy, scrawny, frailly, mud-bottomed ponds, lakes, brook and rivers. It is omnivorous which means they are capable of consuming both plants, vegetables and animals that they might come across every time they feel the need to fill their stomachs.

The Mirror Carp

The carp offers a good fight as they are strong and vigorous. Their weight can regularly grow to 60 pounds or more which is relatively heavy and if an angler is not strong enough, they probably wouldn’t be able to two lift up two or more carps at the same time. This kind of fish has been known to jump out of the water and smash, crack fisherman’s arms and noses. So therefore anglers should be pretty cautious when fishing out for carp.

Carp together with many of their cyprinid relatives are widely held aquarium and pond fish. There are two most remarkable ornamental carps and they are goldfish and koi. Goldfish, (Carassius auratus) were held in reserve as ornamental fish in China for hundreds of years before being presented to Japan in the 15th century, and to Europe in the late 17th century.

Koi, (Cyprinus carpio) a cultivated type of common carp also started off from China and expanded in Japan. Koi has some advantages over most ornamental fishes as it can tolerate temperatures as low as 4 degrees Celsius and can stay alive at low oxygen levels. Another thing about koi, it is a strong good luck symbol for Japanese people and this species are exposed in competitive fish shows like those at the All-Japan exhibition.

In terms of angling value carp are similarly changeable and unpredictable. In Europe this type of species are eagerly sought after by anglers as they are considered as highly prized course fish that are very tricky to hook. Since this species tastes good, anglers do their best in finding ways to catch them; however, these are often fished in private ponds where the fish have to be put back.

In the United States it is classified as a rough fish and also as a damaging naturalized but exotic species, but with sporting qualities and that makes them unique and popular. According to Sir Isaac Walton, “The Carp is the queen of rivers; a stately, a good, and a very subtle fish; that was not at first bred, nor hath been long in England, but is now naturalized.”