Species › Europe, UK & Ireland · Freshwater › Common Carp

Freshwater

Common Carp

Cyprinus carpio · Carp, Mirror carp, Leather carp

Water temp
64–79°F
Peak season
Apr–May, Sep–Oct
Best light
Daytime
IGFA record
75 lb 11 oz (34.35 kg)
Common Carp (Sakata Kaidomaru struggling with a huge carp under a waterfall.jpg)

Photo: Unknown · Public domain · via Wikimedia Commons

OverviewWhere & WhenHow to CatchGearRegulationsRecordsForecastCatches

Overview

Common carp are deep, powerful fish with a long dorsal fin, two pairs of barbels, a protrusible mouth and large bronze-gold scales; mirror carp carry scattered oversized scales and leather carp almost none. Native to the Danube and Black Sea basins, they were spread across Europe by monasteries centuries ago and now live in nearly every lake, pond, canal and slow river from Britain to Russia. Carp feed by rooting in silt for insect larvae, snails, crustaceans and plants, grazing hardest in warm water at dawn and dusk. European carp angling is a huge specialist sport, with fish over 60 lb (27 kg) in France and 50 lb+ in Britain drawing anglers to famous lakes for multi-day sessions.

Typical size8–20 lb (3.5–9 kg); 20–30 in
Trophy30 lb+ (14 kg+) in Britain; 50 lb+ in France and the Continent
Table fareMostly catch & release in Western Europe — eaten at Christmas in Central and Eastern Europe

Where & when

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Spring (April–May) and autumn (September–October) are the big-fish peaks as carp feed heavily before and after the summer spawn; winter fish still bite in mild spells on small baits.

Lac de Saint-Cassien, FranceLegendary big-carp lake in ProvenceRainbow Lake (Lac de Curton), FranceBordeaux gravel pit; 80 lb+ carpWraysbury 1, United KingdomHistoric Thames Valley pit; famous British carp

How to catch

Hair-rigged boilies on a bolt rigCast a 15–20 mm boilie on a short, stiff hooklink with a 3–4 oz lead to a baited area near features such as gravel bars, weed edges or marginal shelves. Bait up with a spod or throwing stick, set bite alarms and let the fish hook itself against the lead.
Surface fishing with floatersIn warm weather, feed floating dog biscuits or pellets until carp are taking confidently, then cast a controller float with a single hookbait among them. Watch the fish take and strike as the lips close; it is the most exciting way to catch carp.

Gear

Rod12' 3–3.5 lb test-curve carp rod (pair or triple)
Reel8000–10000 big-pit spinning or baitrunner
Line15 lb mono or 30 lb braid; 20–25 lb coated braid hooklinks

Lures

Soft-plastic imitation corn or boilieZig-rig foamSmall jig (rarely)

Baits

BoiliesSweetcornTiger nutsPelletsBread

Regulations

England and Wales require an Environment Agency rod licence plus a venue permit, and most Continental countries require a national licence and club card; stillwaters have no national close season, rivers often do, and carp are released almost universally in Western Europe.

Records

IGFA all-tackle world record: 75 lb 11 oz (34.35 kg) — Lac de St-Cassien, France, 1987 (Leo van der Gugten). State and regional records are kept by each fish & wildlife agency.

Frequently asked

What is the best bait for carp?

Boilies, round boiled baits made from fishmeal, bird food or milk proteins, are the modern standard because they resist small fish and can be fished for hours. Sweetcorn, tiger nuts and pellets are excellent cheaper options, and a floating crust or dog biscuit catches surface-feeding carp in summer. On any water, match bait size to the fish and bait up consistently.

Bite forecast — Common Carp

Recent catches

Posted by anglers on the live map, filtered to Common Carp.

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