A 40-kilogram silver carp was caught in the Urals

Description

The fish is an enviable catch for many hunters. Experienced fishermen call the fish differently. You can hear more than 5 pieces, the most popular of which are “bighead” and “silver carp”. The fish got its interesting name thanks to its huge head. Almost 20 percent of the body of a young freshwater resident can be occupied by its head.

The fish is a large pelagic species from the order Cyprinidae. It moves around the pond in small flocks. In the warm season, the flock actively feeds on the upper and lower layers of water, and in winter they hibernate. This species of carp is distributed almost throughout the continent. The main difference between silver carp and carp is their diet. The latter feeds on worms, insects and larvae, while the silver carp's diet consists of 80 percent aquatic vegetation.

Description of the fish Tolstolob

Silver carp is a large representative of carp fish. Everyone knows how voracious these fish are. They are specially released into littered water bodies to reduce the amount of reeds and algae. The amount of grass eaten by this fish is comparable to the amount consumed by cupids. Ichthyologists divide silver carp into three types:

• White;
• Motley;
• Hybrid.

Kinds

There are five varieties of this fish in total. Some of them appeared naturally, others were bred through human efforts. Under natural conditions, there are two main types of fish in question:

• White look, also known as silver;
• Variegated subspecies.

The remaining three species were bred through crossing and live only in artificially prepared reservoirs. Let's take a closer look at the description of all existing silver carp, namely their external characteristics and living habits. You can clearly see the differences between the types in the photos below.

Silver

The most common subspecies in nature received this name due to the translation of the nickname into English. Exact translation from Russian: silver carp – “Silver karp”. The aquatic inhabitant has another nickname - low-eyed fish.

There are several characteristic features of silver carp:

• Oblong body, slightly flattened laterally.
• The entire surface of the body is covered with dense silvery scales.
• The silver carp's eyes are set low on its huge head. In some individuals they are located below eye level. The head of an individual occupies approximately 15% of the entire body.
• On average, this species weighs up to 5 kg. In the wild, fish can grow to enormous sizes, but in populated areas they are caught by hunters.
• The pelvic fin of the silver roughy starts from the neck and extends all the way to the anus.
• Fish with a large head prefer to feed in conditions that are comfortable for it: the water should be no colder than 25 degrees Celsius.

During the day, silver carp fish often changes its location. In the first half of the day it lives near the coastline, and in the afternoon it moves to a deeper area. With the onset of cold weather, around the end of October or beginning of November, the silver carp stops feeding on aquatic plants and goes into a long sleep. This feature applies only to those fish that are found in cold environments. The diet of silver carp is dominated by simple aquatic plants. The older and larger the silver carp, the fattier and tastier its meat will be. It is in the white subspecies that the amount of fish oil is as close as possible to that of fish living in the sea.

Hungarian carp

This subspecies of silver carp is the first successful experiment, as a result of which it was possible to breed an individual to increase the size of the cyprinid population. Hungarian carp is one of the most spectacular varieties. The external characteristics of this carp are similar to those of the carp. However, it differs from carp:

• more miniature head;
• elongated upper body.

The main goal of this breeding experiment is to breed a species of fish that will be heavy and rich in mineral composition, and will not require special care. Hungarian carp can be fed with grain mixtures and other plant crops. Thanks to this food, the fish quickly gains weight and outstrips its fellow fish in development.

The main external features of the Hungarian carp include:

• Large size of individuals;
• Large scales of silvery color;
• The number of rays on the fins.

All the features of the sea dweller are the result of crossing different subspecies of fish from the carp family.

Motley

The second most popular nickname for bigheaded carp in many regions of Russia is heat. Its main characteristic feature is its disproportionately large head and bright colors. The head of the motley subspecies can occupy half of the entire body.

Features of the bighead carp:

• The presence of voluminous fins.
• Presence of an elongated tail.
• The scales are black in mature individuals and golden in young ones.
• Small spots can be seen on the sides of the fish.
• Bighead carp do not have fused gills, so silver carp can feed on zooplankton.
• The red coloring of the bighead carp's fins gives it a distinctive brightness. This species looks much more impressive than its counterparts.

This species can grow up to 1.5 meters in length. The favorite delicacy of the individual in question is the simplest aquatic plants; it is not able to digest more serious food. Bighead carp spawn in spring or early summer. The warm season is best for females, as the water in summer can heat up to 25 degrees Celsius. The speed of maturation depends most on the place of residence. The highest productivity was observed in the territories of Turkmenistan and Moldova.

The motley fish, silver carp, plays an important role in the economy – it actively cleanses water bodies. In addition, its nutritious meat is in demand in the fishing industry.

Black

This type of silver carp was bred artificially. It is the most promising for breeding in reservoirs of the southern regions. The black subspecies loves warmth and very quickly reaches impressive dimensions. The diet of black carp consists of mollusks, which most river fish cannot digest. This subspecies of river fish helps to purify and maintain the sanitary level and cleanliness of many artificial reservoirs. The powerful jaw of the black carp easily crushes mollusk shells. By clearing reservoirs of poor quality food, it preserves the population of carp and other important fish species. This subspecies of the lowland complex has dark-colored scales with a prominent light belly.

Silver carp is not a widespread subspecies. Like herbivorous aquatic inhabitants, it is bred exclusively artificially. Individuals of silver carp quickly grow in length and often go to spawn. The size of the fish is not very large. Very often, black carp are mistaken for silver carp - their appearance is almost the same. Experienced fishermen can distinguish black carp from carp from a photo, namely by the keel bone on the abdominal cavity.

Hybrid

Breeders managed to breed this species artificially. The hybrid silver carp was created by crossing silver carp with motley carp. It has several positive characteristics that make it more attractive for breeding. This fish is famous for its calm behavior in the water: the hybrid fish is not as anxious as the silver subspecies. The undeniable advantage of the hybrid is characterized by the presence of all the best qualities that it inherited from its predecessors.

The positive features of the hybrid include:

• Very fast weight gain;
• Neutral attitude towards cold water. The water temperature does not affect its life activity in any way;
• Optimally sized head;
• Unpretentiousness in nutrition.

Thanks to the above qualities and properties, breeders have the opportunity to place a hybrid individual in places with a cooler climate - the silver and motley subspecies simply would not survive in such regions.

Chinese

From the very appearance of this fish in nature, China was considered its homeland. Rivers such as the Sungari, Ussuri, and Lake Khanka are the main habitat for fish from the carp family. After 1960, the river carp was artificially introduced into fresh water reservoirs located on the territory of the Soviet Union. In China, locals call the fish water goat. They identify it with a goat for a reason. Fish, like animals, seem to “graze” at the bottom of reservoirs, devouring all soft vegetation in their path.

Chinese silver carp looks the same as silver carp. Its taste is the same as that of other subspecies. The only distinguishing feature is the place where the silver carp lives.

Black Sea

Many people are interested in the Black Sea species, but there is no separately registered cyprinid with this name. The Black Sea relative of the silver carp is often called shemaya - it also belongs to the carp family.

Body features of tostoloba

The maximum weight of silver carp is 25 kg. In the European part, the hybrid species of silver carp is most often found, especially in commercial, stocked reservoirs. It has been noticed that the productivity of such farms increases 2-2.5 times in the presence of lobes.

Many people have noticed that silver carp have a very large head. At the bazaar and in stores they even sell heads separately. It makes excellent fish soup. The weight of the silver carp's head is approximately 20% of the total weight of the fish.

Bighead carp has an even larger head. It weighs approximately 45% of his weight. It's hard to say why he needs it so big. Apparently, for actively eating algae. Probably due to such body features, the growth of bigheaded silver carp is the most intense.

The hybrid silver carp incorporates the characteristics of two types. From white it has a silvery body color, and from the second it has a rapid growth rate. As you can easily assume, this type of silver carp is the most profitable for those who breed and sell it. Catching this type of silver carp is also popular among sports fishermen.

Silver carp fish has a mouth cavity that acts as a filter. It passes muddy, green, colored water through its mouthparts. After passing through such a unique filter, the water is purified and becomes clear and more suitable for other fish. This explains the high productivity of fishing reservoirs.

Its upper body is greyish-green with white patches. Its belly and sides have a silver tint, and its fins are light yellow. The teeth of this fish are very strong and sharp. This is not surprising, since in order to “cut down” such an amount of grass, a reliable “tool” is required.

Dimensions and weight

Bigheads have quite large dimensions. The average length of an individual reaches 1.5 meters, and its weight exceeds 26 kilograms. Cases have been recorded of fish weighing 50 kilograms being caught.

The length of the variegated species can reach 1.5 meters. Moreover, the weight of an individual can be over 32 kg. The largest silver carp was caught in Cuba. Then, the weight of the largest silver carp was 60 kg.

The maximum weight of a white individual is 16 kg. The white species is not so large, but it is impressive in size. The body length of this species of silver carp can exceed 1 meter. Silver carp can live more than 20 years. The largest specimen was caught in the waters of the Amur.

Growth rate and maximum size

Silver carp is characterized by a significant life expectancy (up to 20 years) and a rapid increase in weight and size indicators, especially in the first 3 years of development:

• 1-12 months – 0.7-0.8 kg with a height of 25-30 cm;
• 13-24 months – 1.7-2.0 kg, 35-40 cm;
• 25-36 months – 2.8-3.0 kg, 50-55 cm.

Further, the rate of mass gain varies depending on the species. The leader here is the variegated taxon. The largest silver carp in the world weighed 65 kg with a body length of over 1.5 m. The white and hybrid forms grow up to 1-1.2 m with a weight of 35-40 kg. Today, the average weight of silver carp in standard catches in rivers and specialized ponds is 2-4 kg (35-60 cm), but large 5-9-year-old individuals weighing up to 10-12 kg are often found.

Where does it live?

The habitat of silver carp is distributed throughout the world. Its homeland is the rivers of Southeast and East Asia. The natural habitat of silver carp fish is the Amur and Kuban basin. It is actively found in the Aral and Black Seas. In the 60s, the motley species was specially brought to the fresh water bodies of Uzbekistan.

Outside of Russia, fish can be found in many cities in Europe and North America. The fish is popular all over the world: the fish inhabits the waters of India, Pakistan, as well as the lakes of western China. It can be found in the Dniester, Amu Darya, Syr Darya and other rivers.

Silver carp easily acclimatizes in reservoirs and other artificially created reservoirs. Every breeder wants to acquire this useful fish. Its cleaning abilities, namely the work of the gill sieve, keep the place of residence clean. However, fish cannot live in every water. Reservoirs with chemical and other waste will poison silver carp in a matter of days. For a comfortable life and growth, fish need areas with a muddy bottom and succulent plants. The fish swims at a depth of 3-3.5 meters. Closer to the morning, the individual swims closer to the shore, where it remains until lunch. In the remaining time, schools of silver carp like to arrive in the water column or on sandbanks with a calm current. There they can calmly feed or go to spawn.

The biggest silver carp

Silver carp is a fish that inhabits fresh water bodies and belongs to the carp family. It is also called silver carp. The diet of silver carp consists of small living creatures that live in the water column. To do this, the fish has a special filtering apparatus to separate food from water.

Silver carp: DESCRIPTION

Appearance of fish

The sides of the body are painted silver, but the belly can be pure white or with a silver tint.
The head of the fish is quite large, which is why it received its name - silver carp. The mouth is toothless and visually appears upside down, and the eyes are placed quite far on the head and look downward. A characteristic difference between silver carp and other fish species is the wide structure of the forehead and mouth. The head is so large that it occupies a fifth of the size of the entire body. Due to the fact that the eyes are set low, the forehead visually looks even wider. The silver carp, instead of teeth, has a filtering apparatus in its mouth, in the form of fused gills, similar to a sponge. Thanks to this opportunity, silver carp feed on plankton, which is the main source of food for silver carp. Silver carp are specially grown in artificial conditions to clean the reservoir. The body of silver carp can be long and large. Despite this, its body is covered with fairly small scales.

Behavior and lifestyle

Silver carp should be looked for in the middle and upper layers of water.
This fish can live in fairly large rivers, artificial ponds, lakes, creeks, as well as artificial reservoirs of industrial enterprises, such as thermal power plants. Silver carp are able to live in various conditions, both in standing and running water. As a rule, he chooses optimal reservoirs with warm water and moderate currents. But the silver carp avoids fast currents. The favorite place of this fish is shallows with a sandy, rocky or muddy bottom, where there is a light current. It also does well in artificial reservoirs, where there is a lot of nutritious plankton. Interesting to know!

When the water temperature drops to +8 degrees, the fish begins to actively gain fat. With the onset of winter, silver carp falls into a state of suspended animation, being at the bottom of the deepest parts of the reservoir. With the advent of warming, plankton appears in the water. During this period, the fish comes out of hibernation and begins to migrate across the reservoir in search of food. First of all, he examines deep places and only when the water warms up to +24 degrees does the fish rise closer to the surface of the water.

When hungry after hibernation, silver carp can become an easy prey for an angler, as it is ready to swallow any bait on a hook. According to experienced fishermen, at the end of May, silver carp are caught even on pieces of foam rubber or on a cigarette filter.

Lifespan

Types of silver carp

There are only 3 types of silver carp, for example:

• White silver carp
  . That is why it is called white, since it has lighter tones compared to other types. Differs in medium body size. The head is quite large and takes up up to 17 percent of the body. Silver carp feeds only on phytoplankton, that is, objects of plant origin.
• The bigheaded silver carp
  has a slightly larger head and grows to a slightly larger size. The weight of the head can be up to 50% of the total body weight. Bighead carp is not so picky about food, so its diet is based on both phytoplankton and bioplankton, that is, objects of animal origin.
• Silver carp hybrid
  . This species is the result of the work of breeders. This type has all the advantages inherent in the first two types. In addition, this type of fish is not so heat-loving and survives in more extreme conditions. It grows to an impressive size, but its head, like that of a silver carp, is not too large.

Bony or not

Silver carp can be classified as a bony fish, but this does not mean that these bones cannot be gotten rid of. All large fish bones are easily removed during cooking, and simple culinary techniques can be used to remove small bones. To dissolve small seeds, you can use lemon juice or table vinegar. From silver carp meat you can prepare rich fish soup, aspic or dried balyk.

When choosing silver carp in a store or market, you need to give preference to larger individuals. The more well-fed the silver carp, the fattier and tastier its meat. In small carcasses you can find many small and sharp bones, which can spoil the impression of a tasty delicacy.

Distinctive gastronomic features

Silver carp meat has a high fat content. This distinguishes it favorably from its freshwater counterparts, because. This feature of meat is more characteristic of marine life. Due to this fat content, silver carp is used in cooking and prepared in many ways.

Despite the fact that silver carp is bony, smoked and dried balyk is prepared from it, baked in the oven, stewed, cooked fish soup and soups, and prepared aspic. The larger the individual, the tastier the prepared dishes and the less manipulation of the bones.

Calorie content of silver carp: 100 g - 86 kcal. During heat treatment, calorie content is reduced to 77.5 kcal. Therefore, this fish is safely classified as a dietary product. There are diets based on silver carp meat, which is easy to digest and digest, and contains a large amount of protein.

What does it eat?

The basis of the carp diet is plankton of animal and plant origin. However, there are also deviations in nutrition. Let's take a closer look at the diet of the most common fish:

• The silver carp's delicacy is the most monotonous. Usually, algae that appears during the hot season are eaten. During this warm period, the fish actively fulfills its main purpose: it cleanses water bodies by absorbing unwanted plants.

• The diet of bighead carp is similar to that of white fish; its diet is diluted with mollusks and other small insects. Thanks to this diet, the fish grows quickly.

• The diet of a hybrid species is many times wider than that of other species. The hybrid loves to eat small crustaceans. Also, the hybrid is fed with special food.

Nutritional Features

It uses phytoplankton for nutrition, thereby cleaning the place of residence. Where silver carp live, the water never blooms. In the wild, in search of food for the summer, it migrates to river floodplains, where it is warm and there is a lot of food. With the onset of cold weather, it moves back to floodplain lakes.

In autumn, it intensively builds up its fat layer, and in winter it sleeps, sinking into a small hole at the bottom. In the spring, waking up from sleep, it first explores the depths in search of food, then rises to the surface. Being hungry, he puts everything in his mouth.

Silver carp, like all its other species, is a pronounced schooling fish with a clear age hierarchy. Avoids strong currents and hard bottoms. It adheres to moderate depths with an abundance of vegetation. Tolerates a significant temperature range from 0 to 40°C. In winter, it goes to the pits, where it lies “hibernating” next to carp and crucian carp. Copes well with low oxygen levels in water.

Silver carp is a herbivorous fish, often jokingly called “underwater reclamation fish” or “water goat”. Food preferences depend not only on age, but also on species (see table).

We invite you to familiarize yourself with decorative rabbit breeds photos with names.
Fry and young of the year require a lot of nutrients for rapid growth, so they give preference to the smallest aquatic animals and crustaceans (zooplankton), which contain huge amounts of protein. The same menu is typical for adult bigheaded carp.

As the standard species matures, it undergoes significant physical changes associated with the fusion of gill rakers into an effective filtering apparatus. This is why the fish switches to feeding on phytoplankton (single-celled algae).

Due to this feature, silver carp is widely used in aquaculture to prevent or eliminate the consequences of the rapid proliferation of blue-green algae (water blooms).

The hybrid species is a universal eater and easily adapts to special feed mixtures that provide intensive weight gain.

Reproduction

The peak of sexual activity of silver carp occurs at the age of five. By the external characteristics of the fish you can understand whether it is ready to spawn. In a female ready to spawn, the scales acquire a blue color with a gray tint.

In order for spawning to be successful, the most comfortable conditions for the female must be provided, namely, the water temperature must be at least 20 degrees Celsius.

The amount of eggs laid depends on the weight of the female:

• A large female can lay more than three million eggs; usually such fish live and spawn in their natural habitat;
• Fish that live in artificial reservoirs lay up to a million eggs.

A newborn silver carp fry feeds on single-celled zooplankton. The gills of the fry do not develop very quickly, so they are not able to digest larger algae. After the gills of the fish are fully formed, the juveniles begin to eat algae. The cub is ready for adult food when its body reaches a length of five centimeters.

Silver carp habitat

Silver carp lives in many large reservoirs, ponds and lakes in Ukraine. This type of fish prefers a muddy bottom, lush thickets of soft aquatic vegetation and fast currents. It lives only in flocks, can live in deep reservoirs with running or standing water, since it does not tolerate sudden temperature fluctuations very well and prefers fairly warm water. In the autumn months it stays quite close to the shore to bask in the shallows under the sun's rays.

Heat-loving silver carp can be located quite close to technical structures that artificially heat water (for example, be in close proximity to power plants).

The benefits of meat

Silver carp meat is a source of easily digestible protein. It contains polyunsaturated fatty acids omega-3 and omega-6. Such a rich composition is typical for predatory sea fish and is rarely found in river fish.

Regular consumption of silver carp meat has a preventive effect on the body affected by cancer. Silver carp received such a rich and healthy composition thanks to the plankton that it consumes as food.

Positive effects of silver carp on health:

• Seafood pulp is allowed to be consumed while following diabetic diets. The product is not prohibited for chronic gastritis.
• The composition contains the most essential vitamins: B, A, E and C.
• Zinc, phosphorus and iron in silver carp contribute to the active generation of hemoglobin in the blood.
• The condition of atherosclerosis improves.
• Macro and microelements help balance carbohydrate metabolism in the body.
• Microelements in the composition activate and accelerate the growth of hair, nails and eyelashes, and also help in the rejuvenation of skin cells.
• Cypriniform is useful for hypertension and severe rheumatism.
• The properties of meat normalize the functioning of the human central nervous system.

Harm to fish is limited to individual intolerance to seafood or an allergic reaction of the body to proteins. Also, it is undesirable to consume a lot of smoked or too spicy products. Fish in this form is contraindicated for people with abnormalities in the digestive system.

Since silver carp is a fairly fatty fish with tender meat, it can be prepared simply boiled. The BJU of the boiled product will be:

• 19.4 g protein;
• 0.8 g fat;
• 0.2 g carbohydrates.

Carp caviar is also rich in useful elements. It is not in as great demand as red, but is not much inferior to it in terms of taste. Hearty snacks are prepared from fatty silver carp caviar: pancakes from the ground product, pancakes and tartlets with caviar. The product is used to decorate holiday salads and fish main courses. Silver carp caviar has a transparent color. To give the product a more presentable appearance, the manufacturer dyes the caviar orange with natural dyes. Carp caviar is also rich in useful elements.

Silver carp spawning

After reaching the age of 5 years, the silver carp is completely ready to reproduce. A mature individual can be identified by the bluish-gray tint of its scales. This fish, characterized by extremely high fertility, spawns at the end of May or at the beginning of June, during the warm season, when the water in the reservoir is already warmed up to the required level. Silver carp begin to spawn in the current in places with whirlpools, at water temperatures above 20 degrees. One female is able to spawn from 490 to 540 thousand pelagic eggs. The eggs are laid mainly on plants in the bottom and middle layers of the reservoir, most often after heavy rains. Silver carp fry feed on zooplankton, since their gill filtering apparatus is not yet sufficiently developed. Gradually, as they grow older, young silver carp switch to phytoplankton.

Relationship with carp

Carp is the wild predecessor of domestic carp, therefore, it belongs to the distant relatives of the silver carp order. Unlike silver carp, carp does not stop increasing in size throughout its life. He has to move a lot to maintain his health. Due to constant movement, carp has a more elongated body than silver carp. The size of silver carp is always within normal limits; it will not grow larger than its standard parameters. The silver carp is much lazier than the carp, moves little and sleeps a lot. I am used to hiding from predators in the dense thickets of ponds. Since these species are not predatory, they do not quarrel with each other.

Origin of the species and description

Photo: Silver carp

Many species belonging to the largest family of freshwater fish, the Cyprinidae, have been introduced widely into many regions of the world—primarily for food production and aquaculture—and have then avoided becoming harmful invaders, spreading into their new ecosystems and often competing with native species for food and environment. a habitat.

Video: Silver carp

Silver carp were raised at six state, federal and private aquaculture facilities in Arkansas in the 1970s and placed in municipal wastewater lagoons. They then escaped to establish themselves in the Mississippi River basin and have since spread through the upper Mississippi River system.

Of all the environmental factors, temperature has the greatest impact on the maturity of silver carp. For example, in the Iranian Terek River, male silver carp mature at 4 years, and females at 5 years. About 15% of females mature at 4 years, but 87% of females and 85% of males are in the 5-7 age groups.

Interesting fact: Silver carp are known to jump out of the water when startled (for example, by the noise of a motor boat).

The average length of a silver carp is about 60-100 cm. But large fish can reach up to 140 cm in body length, and large fish can weigh about 50 kg.

Natural enemies

River silver carp is not a predator, so it is often attacked by more aggressive fish. The main enemies of the river dweller are pike, and at times, wild perch. To ensure safety for themselves and their offspring, schools of small fish tend to move in small groups. Fish have to hide and be on guard for almost two years. At 2.5 years old, individuals are already quite large and thick - they are able to fight back and protect themselves and their family from harm from predatory fish.

Natural enemies of silver carp

There is no information about its enemies in wildlife. This is a large, strong, hardy individual that can stand up for itself. The exception is the person who loves to mine it. Every lucky person who has the chance to catch a silver carp tries to capture this moment in a photo. The fry are hunted by birds, pike, and large perch.

The silver carp fish itself can harm its neighbors. Fry of mussels and other species that feed on plankton often remain hungry due to its gluttony.

Fishing Features

In order to get prey in the form of this fish, it is necessary to fish in reservoirs into which the aquatic inhabitant was brought more than five years ago. For a successful hunt you may need: a casting rod, a feeder, as well as carp sticks capable of lifting a fairly heavy load. The favorite bait of the aquatic dweller is pea porridge. It is better to fish in the morning or at lunchtime. Half of the success depends on how the fisherman casts: the bait must lie at the very bottom of the reservoir. Fishing for this carp will require a lot of patience, so it is recommended to hunt not only it, but also other species of fish at the same time. If you fail to get a valuable trophy, other prey can brighten up the defeat.

Features of character and lifestyle

Photo: Silver carp in a pond

This species has been introduced to many countries around the world for two reasons: aquaculture and plankton control in nutrient-rich water bodies and wastewater treatment plants. Their ability to control algal blooms is somewhat controversial. Silver carp have been reported to be effective in controlling algal blooms if the correct amount of fish is used.

Due to the fact that silver carp can effectively filter algae >20 µm in size, therefore, the amount of small algae increases as a result of lack of fish grazing and increased nutrients due to internal loading.

Some researchers have suggested that silver carp should only be used if the primary goal is to reduce nuisance blooms of large phytoplankton species, such as cyanobacteria, that cannot be effectively controlled by large herbivorous zooplankton. Silver carp stocks appear to be most suitable in tropical lakes that are highly productive and lack large cladoceral zooplankton.

Others are more inclined to use silver carp not only for algae control, but also for zooplankton and suspended organic matter. They argue that the introduction of 300-450 silver carp into the Netofa Reservoir in Israel has created a balanced ecological system.

Interesting fact: Silver carp pose a danger to people due to collisions with fishing boats and injury to people who jump into them.

Photo of silver carp

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Silver carp fishing

This fish is caught on spinning rods with a reel and bottom fishing rods. The size of the catch is directly dependent on the time of year and the place of fishing. Since silver carp is a fairly large and powerful fish, to catch it you should choose durable equipment that can withstand significant loads. But it is worth considering that silver carp is wary of coarse tackle (in particular, thick fishing line).

The most favorable conditions for catching this fish are considered to be high water temperature and complete calm. Technoplankton (small granules made from crushed food), cucumber pieces, lightly boiled young peas, young shoots of algae and cabbage leaves are used as bait for catching silver carp. The most successful bite will be in clear and warm water. In muddy and blooming water it will be extremely difficult to catch such a fish.

Silver carp is a very tasty and healthy fish. Fishing for silver carp using technoplankton:

Undoubtedly, silver carp is a fish that brings great aesthetic pleasure to those who like to spend their leisure time fishing for representatives of the ichthyofauna that live in our rivers and reservoirs.

And how could it be otherwise: who wouldn’t be proud of having caught this handsome carp family weighing 15 or 20 kilograms? In addition, this fish is extremely tasty both fried and boiled, and it also forms the basis of dietary nutrition.

Well, silver carp fat is very good for health.

What do we know about silver carp?

Silver carp is a fish that is able to adapt to harsh conditions, so the chances of catching it in winter are by no means bleak. She has a fairly elongated body and a large head.

The gills of silver carp have a specific structure: they seem to be fused with the body, visually creating the effect of a filter tape. The sides of the fish are silvery in color, and the spinal part has an olive-grayish tint.

The representative of the ichthyofauna in question has small scales, which are not always uniform in color.

Silver carp is a fish that prefers to lead a schooling lifestyle. She grows quite quickly and can gain up to 23-25 ​​kilograms. If a silver carp lives up to three years, then it will have no competitors or enemies in the reservoir.

Habitat

The above representative of the carp family has a fairly wide geographical habitat in our country. However, a caveat should be made: it lives only in those ecosystems where it was artificially populated.

Usually the fish start in the spring and begin to completely colonize the territory of the reservoir, forming small schools. The activity of silver carp decreases with warming water and growth of vegetation: it settles in a specific place.

Basically, the representative of the carp family lives in places with a muddy bottom and soft aquatic vegetation. As a rule, the depth there does not exceed 3 meters. Just before sunset and early morning, silver carp moves closer to the shore, taking into account the shallows and depth line. During the daytime, he tries to stay away from the shore.

Ideal time for fishing

Silver carp is a fish that is alien to suspended animation, unlike most representatives of the ichthyofauna.

It goes to the wintering shelter only after the freeze-up process is completed, but even until this moment it does not stop feeding. So, fans of winter fishing can fully count on catching silver carp. But the high probability of catching a representative of the carp family is the period from June to September.

Moreover, the period from June 15 to July 31 is simply the ideal time for hunting silver carp. At night, the bite will not be as active, so it is better to start fishing around 6 o’clock in the morning. If you are fishing in the first half of the day in the hope of catching a silver carp, then do not forget to loosen the drag on the reel.

In the afternoon, the bite becomes infrequent (about 1-2 times per hour).

Specifics of fishing

What gear is commonly used for catching silver carp? Experienced fishermen recommend donka or spinning. The main thing to remember is that the devices must be durable, since silver carp is a fish that is strong and irrepressible. She is capable of jumping one and a half meters out of the water just to get off the hook.

That is why tackle for silver carp must be chosen carefully and scrupulously. First, focus on the diameter of the fishing line. It should vary from 0.35 to 1 mm. The hook size should be from No. 6 to No. 10. What other tackle for silver carp is of fundamental importance? Leash.

The fish is very suspicious and timid: if it notices a sinker that is too close to the bait, it will be very wary. Some people use three leashes at once to make fishing as successful as possible.

First, a short branch is placed on the fishing line, then a feeder and a bead are attached to it, and at the final stage a swivel is attached. The first (15 cm) is fixed behind the outlet to the swivel.

The second (6-7 cm) is placed on the fishing line so that it is 10 cm above the position of the upper edge of the outlet. The third leash (10-12 cm) is placed 30 cm above the upper edge of the outlet.

Features of donk fishing

Can't decide how to catch silver carp? Remember that when choosing bottom gear you need to take into account the degree of its “roughness”: the more, the better. In this case there is no need to use a fishing rod.

Tackle should be located at a distance of at least 6 meters from each other: this will eliminate the possibility of tangling fishing devices if it is carried out in the current.

Features of spinning fishing

How to catch silver carp with a spinning rod? This method of fishing involves strong and sweeping hooks. This way the hook will fit tightly into the oral cavity. If this happens, then the silver carp walks very quietly.

As a rule, the above-mentioned representative of the carp family grabs the bait almost from the bottom and swallows it with excitement. At the same time, if the hook is not particularly sharp, the fish, feeling a slight prick, may immediately spit it out along with the bait.

At the moment when the silver carp grabs the bait, the line begins to tighten, then after a few seconds it weakens a little, and then tightens again. Already at the first tension of the fishing line you should hook the fish.

If, due to inexperience or other reasons, the hooking was unsuccessful, then the further outcome of the matter will depend not on the skills of the fisherman, but on the behavior of the fish.

After the first jerk, it becomes motionless for some time, and if during this period a representative of the carp family senses danger, then there may not be a further bite. This is how fishing works: silver carp is a very careful fish.

When luck smiles on the fisherman and he manages to hook the prey, it begins to resist very violently. After the first jerk, the silver carp tries to hide in the aquatic thickets. And if his efforts are crowned with success, then the fisherman in this case can only sympathize.

Groundbaits and bait

It should be noted that in warm weather, silver carp will rarely react to any artificial bait if there are natural nutritional components: algae, small crustaceans, phytoplankton.

Only with the onset of autumn will the amount of the above products begin to decrease. This does not mean that feeding is not needed at all in the summer: its volumes should simply be strictly dosed at this time.

The favorite foods for silver carp are bloodworms and maggots. You can also use plant ingredients: canned or young peas, bran.

If you didn’t worry about the food in advance, then chopped grass will also work: clover and nettle.

In order to increase the chances of catching silver carp, it is recommended to use camouflaged hooks, which can be made unnoticeable using filamentous algae.

Experienced fishermen often use a bait under the simple name “sandwich”. First, 3 kernels of corn are baited onto the hook, which are then carefully placed on the leash.

Then we make a special product from flour and clay in the form of a mini-sausage, which we also put on a leash. Well, at the final stage, we bait 3 corn kernels again and place them directly in front of the hook, and then string 3 kernels onto the hook itself.

This bait is convenient because there is no need for a sinker, and the product made from clay and dust is an excellent bait.

Experienced fishermen are well aware of what it is to catch silver carp using technoplankton. The latter is an artificial attachment in the form of pressed powder.

Visually it resembles barrels. Technoplankton is equally effective in both float and bottom fishing. It is enough to throw one barrel into a pond, and a cloud immediately forms on the water, which resembles real plankton, and naturally, the silver carp begins to be interested in it. In other words, fishing for silver carp using technoplankton is a surefire way to catch a lot of fish.

If a whole flock of representatives of the carp family is swimming in the river, and there is very little natural food, then the chances of catching silver carp using artificial bait are high: and this trend will last from May to September.

The bite can be active throughout the day. However, if plankton is present in sufficient quantities in the natural ecosystem, then silver carp should be caught when the water temperature cools down to 18-19 degrees Celsius.

Source: https://www.syl.ru/article/202502/new_tolstolobik—ryiba-ochen-vkusnaya-i-poleznaya-lovlya-tolstolobika-na-tehnoplankton

Silver carp: benefits and harm

Silver carp are fish of the carp family that live in rivers and floodplain lakes in the eastern part of Asia.

Representatives of this species have a tall, voluminous body covered with small cycloid scales, a large head with a thick convex forehead and low-set eyes. The sides of the fish are silver, the back and fins are light gray, the belly is completely white.

The lifespan of silver carp in natural habitats is more than 18 years. During this time, the adult grows up to 110 cm in length and gains weight up to 35 kg.

Silver carp is a commercial fish characterized by high fat content and excellent taste. It goes on sale fresh, smoked or frozen. Silver carp carcasses are stewed, baked, dried and fried, used for making fish soup, aspic, cutlets, balyk and various snacks.

How to choose the right silver carp?

Silver carp should be purchased only from those sellers who can provide sanitary documentation for their goods.

High-quality fish should have a slight smell of algae and river water, a dense and elastic body, not covered with a thick layer of mucus, not sunken or cloudy eyes, and gill filaments of a uniform red or pink color.

Preference should be given to large individuals weighing more than 2 kg - they contain more fat and fewer sharp, small bones.

Vitamins in silver carp and its nutritional value

Nutritional value of silver carp (100 g):

• 19.186 g proteins;
• 0.893 g fat;
• 1.096 g ash;
• 71.697 mg cholesterol;
• 0.149 g omega-3;
• 0.008 g omega-6;
• 78.598 g of water.

Vitamins in silver carp (100 g):

• retinol equivalent (A) – 33.708 mcg;
• thiamine (B1) – 0.038 mg;
• niacin equivalent (PP) – 2.896 mg;
• tocopherol equivalent (E) – 2.659 mg;
• riboflavin (B2) – 0.112 mg.

Calorie content of silver carp

Calorie content of 100 g of silver carp:

• raw – 85.996 kcal;
• smoked – 114.307 kcal;
• fried – 192.303 kcal;
• boiled – 76.894 kcal;
• baked – 79.216 kcal;
• stewed - 78.606 kcal.

The aspic prepared from this fish contains 67.429 kcal, and the fish soup contains 24.597 kcal. The energy value of steamed silver carp cutlets is 108.449 kcal.

Useful elements in silver carp

Macroelements in silver carp (100 g):

• 263.612 mg potassium;
• 162.118 mg chlorine;
• 28.614 mg calcium;
• 77.916 mg sodium;
• 34.007 mg magnesium;
• 209.211 mg sulfur;
• 212.064 mg phosphorus.

Microelements in silver carp (100 g):

• 0.613 mg iron;
• 3.212 µg molybdenum;
• 54.093 mcg chromium;
• 5.701 µg nickel;
• 427.004 mcg fluoride.

Useful properties of silver carp

• Silver carp is a natural source of animal protein with a balanced amino acid structure. Daily consumption of this fish accelerates the body’s recovery processes after illness, mental and physical stress.
• Silver carp fillet is easily digested and quickly absorbed by the body.
  The beneficial substances present in its composition activate the functioning of the stomach and intestines and promote the production of digestive juices. Nutritionists advise people suffering from gastrointestinal diseases (especially those that develop against the background of reduced acidity of digestive juice) to eat at least 1.5 kilograms of this fish per week.
• Fish dishes made from silver carp contain a whole complex of antioxidant compounds that slow down the aging of the body. Regular inclusion of them in the diet reduces the risk of cancerous and benign tumors.
• Silver carp is a low-calorie and low-fat fish that can be included in a diet menu aimed at combating excess weight.
  It contains B vitamins, which accelerate metabolism and indirectly promote weight loss.
• Nutritionists advise people suffering from diseases of the hematopoietic system to consume silver carp dishes at least 4 times a week. The beneficial compounds contained in their composition regulate blood clotting, reducing the risk of blood clots.
• Silver carp is rich in substances that can regulate blood sugar levels. Dishes prepared from fillets of this fish benefit people who have diabetes or are at risk for this disease.
• B vitamins and other beneficial compounds included in silver carp strengthen the nervous system.
  People who regularly include this fish in their diet sleep better, suffer less from neuroses and depression, cope with stressful situations more easily, and almost never get irritated over trifles.
• Silver carp contains a whole range of useful substances that have immunomodulatory properties, protect the body from infections and reduce the risk of developing colds.
• Calcium, fluorine, phosphorus and other substances found in silver carp strengthen bone tissue and help prevent the development of rickets and dental diseases. Dishes prepared from it are useful for fractures and other bone injuries.
• Silver carp fillet contains useful compounds that accelerate the removal of excess bad cholesterol from the body, significantly improve the condition of blood vessels, strengthen the myocardium, and regulate blood pressure. With its regular inclusion in the diet, the likelihood of atherosclerosis, hypertension, heart attack, hypotension and other cardiac disorders is reduced.
• The beneficial elements, vitamins and fats contained in silver carp help strengthen nails and hair and activate their growth. The results of a whole series of studies have shown that daily consumption of dishes from this fish helps to slow down the aging of the skin, give it a youthful and healthy appearance, and prevent the appearance of fine expression lines and age-related wrinkles.

Contraindications to the use of silver carp and its harm

• Individual intolerance is the only absolute contraindication to eating silver carp. Individuals who have previously exhibited signs of seafood allergy should also take special care when including this fish in their diet.
• When hot smoking fish carcasses, carcinogenic substances are formed that can negatively affect the functioning of the body and provoke the appearance of tumor formations. That is why the consumption of smoked silver carp should be limited to 200–300 g per week.
• Silver carp, as well as other river fish, are susceptible to parasitic infestations. Therefore, dishes that contain meat from representatives of this species require careful culinary and temperature treatment (long-term cooking, baking, etc.).

Source: https://OnWomen.ru/tolstolobik.html