Grass Carp
The
grass carp is long covered with large scales, slightly golden in colour it is
similar but lighter to the Wild Carp. It can grow over 1metre in length and
reach weights in excess of 30kg.
In 2001, the British Record was broken by Colin Nash at Church Lake, Horton, Berkshire with a 36lb 9oz grass carp pictured right:
They are occasionally found in ponds, but favour lakes and slow-flowing rivers. These fish are highly effective biological controls of nuisance weed and algae problems as they feed largely on aquatic plants, however their numbers must be controlled so as not to starve the habitat of plants.
In the warmer months, the Grass Carp can consume the equivalent to it's own body weight, daily.
The Grass Carp is not usually fished for as a targeted species but is often caught accidentally when fishing for others.