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Crucian Carp
Common name: Crucian Carp
Latin name: Carassius carassius
Family: Cyprinidae
Current UK Rod Caught Coarse Fish Record
CARP Crucian (Carassius carassius) 4lb 9oz 9 dr M Bowler, RMC Fishery, Yateley Lake
Description and habitat of Crucian Carp
The Crucian Carp (Carassius carassius) is amongst the smallest members
of the family Cyprinidae, which includes other fish such as the Common
Carp. Although of the same family as the Common Carp, the Crucian Carp
is different in that it doesn't have barbules and rarely reaches a
weight above 3.3lb (1.5 kg). Crucian Carp vary in colour from gold to
bronze but mainly have a brownish colouring across the back with gold
or greyish green sides leading down to a yellowish or white belly.
They usually have a very rounded body with a covering of small scales
in an even pattern and the reddish fins of the Crucian are rounded
with a convex dorsal fin. I have read that Crucian Carp can often
interbreed with the Common, Mirror or Leather Carp which can present
the angler with some confusion to the identity of the fish. It is
believed to have been imported from Germany around the 18th century.
The Crucian Carp is a very hardy and extremely adaptable fish able to
survive in ponds and lakes with poor water quality with little oxygen
that would prove fatal to most other species. They spawn mainly on
water plants around the months of May to June. The eggs hatch within a
week but the fish stay attached to the plants for two or three days to
feed on the yolk sack before swimming off. When they are older they
usually swim in shoals of fish of around the same age and weight.
Natural food of the Crucian Carp include insect larvae, small
crustaceans, zooplankton and fauna. Although mainly a bottom feeder,
The Crucian Carp will feed at all levels and are often seen taking
small insects from the surface of the water during sunny days.
Fishing Methods for catching Crucian Carp:
As with all fish, Crucian Carp can be caught using all methods of
angling including float, ledger or feeder but the float seems best by
far. Light tackle is the order of the day fished on or just off the
bottom near reeds or around surface plants. When fishing using Caster
as bait, hooked through the end; if you get bites but upon striking
you find the Crucian Carp has left you with an empty half shell try
burying the hook totally inside the caster. Darker casters are more
buoyant in the water, so choose the darker caster to balance out the
weight of the hook. This makes the hooked caster fall through the
water more naturally at the same rate as your loose feed. Heavy
groundbaiting or pre-baiting with groundbait is unnecessary. It is
best to feed groundbait sparingly if you do use it and use a fine
groundbait to cause a 'cloud' in the water. A very small piece of
bread flake squeezed onto a size 16 hook can often produce good
results. Don’t squeeze the flake onto the hook too hard because you
want little bits to flake off to tempt the fish and if you retrieve
your float and the bread is still on the hook you’ve squeezed it on to
tightly!
Baits for catching Crucian Carp:
The most common baits to catch Crucian Carp on are maggots, casters,
bread (either punch, flake or paste), pinkies, small red worm,
brandlings, bloodworm, sweetcorn, small pieces of cheese and small
pieces of diced luncheon meat.
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