Grass carp: what kind of fish? Photos, catching, description, how to cook grass carp

Grass carp is a ray-finned fish of the carp family. People call it grass carp. This is due to its lifestyle, because cupid, unlike carp, feeds only on plant foods. Its habitat is freshwater bodies of water. In nature, this fish is found in the Amur River basin and rivers of China. Grass carp is a valuable commercial fish; its meat is rich in microelements and vitamins that are beneficial to humans.

Grass carp close up

Appearance and food preferences

The fish can be recognized by the following notable appearance features.

Cupid has an elongated, rounded body covered with large scales. The head is short, the mouth is small, and there are no antennae.
The gill cover has radial stripes.
The teeth have two rows and are located on the outermost gill. The teeth located in the pharynx are notched; there is a longitudinal notch on the chewing surface.
The fin on the back has 3 hard and up to 8 soft bones. The anal feather has 3 hard and 7 flexible rays. The fins on the belly are small and fan-shaped at the base of the head. There is a small depression on the tail.
The fish has a gray-green or yellowish back, and the sides are covered with golden or silvery scales. The belly color is usually white or yellow-gray. The dorsal and caudal fins are dark, the rest are light.
Cupid's eyes have a bright yellow iris with a black pupil in the middle.
The average size fish is about 100 cm, it can reach 1.5 m with a weight of up to 45 kg.

Found in large rivers, lakes, ponds and slightly salted reservoirs.

The menu of juvenile carp includes crustaceans. After reaching a length of 3 cm, they begin to look for food of plant origin. If the water level rises, the fish switches to feeding on terrestrial vegetation. Occasionally, various small organisms may enter the carp's diet.

White carp: features of the species

The photo of grass carp shows that it has a large, elongated body, flattened on the sides. The maximum size of an adult specimen is 1 meter and weighs 40 kg.

An interesting nuance is that the color of the fins of grass carp can be different. In general, the fish has a very specific appearance - a small head against a massive and strong body.

The dorsal and caudal fins are dark, and those on the belly and back are light. The back is greenish, and the abdominal part has a golden tint. Here is a brief description of grass carp.

Fish reproduction

Puberty of fish occurs at the age of 1 to 10 years, depending on the climate. In the northern regions, the ability to reproduce in cupid appears much later than in its southern relatives. Males mature a year earlier than females. In the Amur River area, females can breed at the age of 9 years and weigh 6-7 kg. Their relatives living in southern China mature at 4-5 years of age and weigh 5 kg.

Two grass carps underwater

Sexual dimorphism in males occurs in the form of the appearance of whitish dust from exfoliated epithelium on the pectoral and dorsal fins. In females, similar mildly expressed bumps are formed only for a short time. The area around the anus of females swells and turns pink.

Spawning of carp in rivers in China takes place from May to August when the air temperature is from 18 to 26°C. In the Amur, spawning occurs in the first half of summer. Fish rise to their spawning grounds against the current during river floods. Females spawn into the water column in the morning and evening hours. The eggs are about 2 mm in diameter. The older and larger the fish, the more eggs it can produce. Young females can spawn from 226 thousand eggs, fish aged 14-15 years and 90-100 cm long - up to 1567 thousand eggs. In places with a slow current, the eggs sink to the bottom; in fast-flowing waters, the eggs are carried downstream. The appearance of fry from eggs occurs after 1.5-2 days, depending on the temperature of 21-26°C.

The fry do not descend to depth, but prefer to stay closer to the shore. At first, the juveniles feed on zooplankton. It often happens that artificial reservoirs do not have suitable conditions for spawning. Then a process occurs in the females’ body that destroys the eggs. It lasts long enough and the fish do not participate in spawning the next year.

Habitat

In nature, grass carp can be found in East Asia. In our country, it lives in only a few rivers - the Volga, Yenisei, Amur, Ussuri, Khanki. Grass carp are also caught in the Don River.

The fish is very interesting for breeding. The most famous growing point is the semi-freshwater Lake Balkhash.

Breeding in artificial reservoirs

Due to the unpretentiousness of grass carp, it is actively used for stocking reservoirs with fish. Therefore, the fish is found not only in the Far East, but also in ponds in the European part of Russia and the CIS countries.

Cupid is not afraid of temperature changes and calmly tolerates the lack of oxygen in the water. It feels comfortable in both warm and cold water. Heating water to 30 degrees or more promotes active growth and reproduction of carp. In winter, the fish practically does not increase in size, but in the summer months it grows rapidly.

Grass carp is unpretentious to food. It will eat any aquatic or terrestrial vegetation. When it gets hot, cupid's appetite increases and he actively gains weight. In one day, a cupid can eat as much grass as it weighs. Over the course of a year, he can gain from 2 to 5 kg. With the onset of cold weather, the fish stop eating, gather in schools, lie down in mud pits and fall into a dormant state. During the winter, mucus appears on the carp's body, which protects it from freezing. In spring, the fish float to the surface and mucus can be seen in the water. Experienced fishermen will use this feature to learn about the places where grass carp gather.

Grass carp released into the pond

If the fish does not have enough food, it may eat its own eggs. Therefore, during the breeding process it is worth feeding the fish with freshly cut hay.

Ponds where representatives of cyprinids and other herbivorous fish already live are quite suitable for grass carp. He gets along well with small fish. Predators cannot be added to it, otherwise this will negatively affect its population.

The benefits and harms of cupid

This species is one of the most valuable fish species. Its meat is fatty and not only has incredible taste, but also has a positive effect on human life.

Among the useful properties are:

It is a storehouse of nutrients and vitamins, so regular consumption helps prevent vitamin deficiency;
The meat of this fish contains a large amount of easily digestible protein, which will allow you to quickly restore strength after physical activity.
Due to the high content of antioxidants, it prevents the formation of cancer cells and also has a rejuvenating effect on the body.
Thanks to the retinol contained in meat, it improves vision.
Normalizes the functioning of the digestive, circulatory and nervous systems due to the presence of B vitamins in its composition.
Removes toxins and bad cholesterol from the body.
Reduces the likelihood of diseases of the musculoskeletal system due to the presence of calcium and phosphorus.
Thanks to the potassium and magnesium present in the fillet, the full functioning of the cardiovascular system is ensured.
It is recommended for use by people with diabetes, as the compounds help lower blood sugar levels.
Fatty acids help improve the appearance of hair, nails and skin.

Even such a seemingly ideal food product has its disadvantages and contraindications:

Fish should be subjected to careful heat treatment, as its meat is susceptible to the influence of parasites.
Contraindicated for people with acute diseases of the gastrointestinal tract.
It can also cause an allergic reaction in people prone to allergies.

Profitability of breeding grass carp

Those who are seriously thinking about starting a business by breeding grass carp must definitely calculate the profitability of this idea. The first and largest costs are associated with the construction of the pond. For the calculation, we take a standard reservoir with an area of 50 m². The price will include:

excavator services for creating a pit - 16 thousand rubles;
organizing conditions for fish (PVC film, sand, vegetation, fence, bricks) - 30 thousand rubles;
equipment (oxygen compressor, filter, water sterilizer) - 60 thousand rubles;
analysis of water in the pond - 2 thousand rubles;
additional equipment (feeders, separators, electric generator, water parameter analyzers, etc.) - 200 thousand rubles.

In total, you will have to spend 308,000 rubles to create a pond and conditions for normal life of fish. We release the fry into the finished pond. At the initial stage, you need to purchase at least 2,000 pieces; they will cost about 10,000 rubles. If the fish does not reproduce, you will have to buy fry regularly. Every year you will have to spend 18 thousand rubles on electricity and fertilizing, and 6 thousand rubles on advertising and fuel. We will set aside another 26 thousand rubles for unforeseen expenses. It turns out that in just the first year the business will cost 308,000 + 10,000 + 18,000 + 6,000 + 26,000 = 366 thousand rubles.

In a couple of years, you can sell fish at 600-800 kg per year. In retail sales, 1 kg of uneviscerated fish meat costs 210 rubles. You can earn at least 600 × 210 = 126 thousand rubles per year. If you subtract the annual costs and costs for the fry, you can achieve a profit of 126,000 - 18,000 - 6,000 - 10,000 = 92,000 rubles. Even with the most modest sales and annual additional purchase of fry, the profitability will be 73%. It turns out that all costs will pay off in 4-5 years.

The benefits and harms of grass carp meat

Grass carp meat is very tasty and nutritious, it has great nutritional value. For cooking, it is better to take large specimens, as they have large bones that are easier to remove. Fish meat can be cooked in any way - it can be boiled, stewed, fried, baked. Fish fillets are used to make delicious cutlets, pies and stuffed dishes.

Grass carp baked in the oven

Benefit

Cupid meat includes a full set of vitamins A, B, C, E and beneficial microelements: potassium, calcium, phosphorus. Meat has omega fatty acids, riboflavin, and folic acid. Regular consumption of grass carp meat has a positive effect on the functioning of the heart and blood vessels and accelerates brain activity. Metabolism is also activated, the functioning of the digestive and nervous systems is normalized. Nutrients help normalize emotional state and reduce the risk of depression. This fish is a dietary dish and has a calorie content of 134 kcal per 100 g. It is useful to include it in the diet of people who are watching their figure and want to lose weight. To keep meat low in calories, you should steam the fish, bake it in the oven, or boil the fish soup. This food is ideal for breastfeeding women. Nutrients will help you recover after childbirth, and will become a source of vitamins and microelements for the baby. The first time, fish should be eaten in small doses to see if the child has allergies.

INTERESTING FACT. The only thing healthier than carp meat is its liver. It is considered a delicacy and has a pleasant taste.

Harm

There are few contraindications for use of grass carp. Those who suffer from allergies should not eat fish. People with liver disease and digestive system problems should use it carefully.

HELPFUL INFORMATION. During the cooking process, fish should be subjected to intensive heat treatment to avoid infection with parasites and infectious diseases.

White amur

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Subtleties of catching grass carp

You can catch grass carp only with the onset of warm weather, when the water temperature is above 10°C. When choosing a place for fishing, you need to focus on areas with an abundance of grass. It is recommended to observe the surface of the reservoir. In search of food, the fish rises to the top and reveals itself with a splash, as well as the presence of breakers and circles in the water.

Fisherman caught a big grass carp

Tackle, bait and lures

Grass carp is quite large in size, so you should prepare strong gear to catch it. A rigid rod 3.5 m long, a non-inertial reel, a strong fishing line 0.45 mm thick, and hooks with a meek shank No. 8-9 according to the international standard are suitable.

To catch carp, you can take both bottom and feeder gear. The latter shows greater efficiency due to the possibility of long-distance casting. Cautious fish far from the shore behave less warily and follow the bait better. A long leash of 55-60 cm will help increase the chance of a successful bite.

Cupid has an excellent sense of smell and responds well to crumbly bait. Both ready-made and homemade mixtures are suitable. They should form large flakes or cloudy spots on the surface. Effective bait is corn flour, oatmeal, cookie crumbs, cereals, cake.

The gluttony and indiscriminate nature of grass carp in food allows the use of a wide range of baits for catching it:

cabbage, dandelion or lettuce leaves;
a branch of parsley or dill;
boiled corn, peas, potatoes, pearl barley;
alder, bean or pea foliage;
bread, dough;
locust, grasshopper;
bloodworm, maggot.

Balls made from corn or semolina with chopped mint, basil, and dill give good results in attracting fish. It is advisable to color the bait in a bright color using food coloring.

Fishing technique

Cupid searches for food throughout the daylight hours. But the fish bite better in the first half of the day, when they are the hungriest. Cupid is very timid and cautious; he can be startled by the slightest movement and rustling noises. Therefore, you need to catch it with a long cast. It happens that a flock grazes near the shore. Then the fisherman should stand to the side and cast the fishing rod diagonally.

You don’t need to feed the carp right away, otherwise the bait falling into the water will scare away the fish. It is advisable to use bait when there is not even a bite for 1-1.5 hours. In some cases, you can scatter bait in different places and start fishing in an unfed area.

The bait should be placed so that the hook does not protrude from it, otherwise the fish will prick itself and will no longer come. The bait should not lie on the bottom, as the cupid simply will not notice it.

Grass carp caught with a net

The hooking technique depends on the type of bait. If it is large in size, you should wait until there are constant movements of the float or feeder, and only then pull the fishing rod. Compact baits, for example, peas, corn, boilies, and cupid, are grabbed immediately. Then you need to hook the fish quickly. When playing, you need to be prepared for the fact that the cupid will offer strong resistance. It happens that at first the fish obediently follows the bait, but at one moment makes a powerful jerk. If the line on the reel is not loosened, a break occurs. To prevent this from happening, you need to pull the fish out carefully, gradually pulling it towards the shore. In case of resistance, a net will help.

The video describes in detail the rules of catching grass carp:

How best to cook cupid

There are many ways to prepare grass carp, but its best taste is when baked in the oven. To do this, you need to take a fish carcass, clean it and remove all the insides through the stomach along with the spine. The fish is rinsed under water and placed belly up, smeared with mayonnaise and sprinkled with spices. You can put chopped vegetables on top of the fish, for example, carrots, green beans. After this, the dish is placed in the oven and baked. If desired, you can wrap the fish in foil and put lemon slices in it.

If you want to prepare a richer dish, you can fry the cupid. To do this, the carcass is cut into pieces of equal thickness. You can add special piquancy to the meat if you sprinkle it with soy sauce or sprinkle with fish spices before frying.

Cupid cooked on the grill is considered the most delicious. You can stuff the fish with tomatoes, eggplants and smoke it in a cocktail pot on the branches of fruit trees.