Status: listed on the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) Red List of Threatened Species.
Appearance: Crucian carp are hump-backed with a deep bronze or golden body. They have no barbels around the mouth, unlike the common carp and have a long, convex dorsal fin. They prefer shallow waters and are found in ponds and slow-flowing rivers and canals. They are extremely hardy fish and can tolerate very cold, polluted waters and low oxygen conditions.
British record: 4lb 9oz (British record committee 2015)
Lateral line scale count: 31-35 (this is the dark row of scales along the central length of the fish's body)
Lifespan: 10 years
How to catch a crucian carp
Crucian carp like to shoal and can be found in large groups. They are very shy fish and tend not to be greedy feeders, lightly mouthing a bait rather than swallowing it in one go. Therefore it pays to strike at the very slightest movement of the float. If a bite is left to develop, more often than not the chance of catching that fish has gone.
Maggots, casters, chopped worms, sweetcorn and small cubes of luncheon meat are all very good baits for crucian carp.
Where to catch a crucian carp
Their dislike of boat traffic limits the distribution of this species to lightly-boated canals.
