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Common name: Crucian Carp
Latin name: Carassius carassius
Family: Cyprinidae
Current UK Rod Caught Coarse Fish Record Crucian Carp (Carassius carassius)
4lb 12oz Julian Barnes, Johnson's Lake Surrey 2021
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 3.5lb (1.58 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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