Common carp is a freshwater schooling fish of the Carp family. There are two forms of this fish - residential and semi-aisle. The first resides in one body of water, the second can live in lakes and fresh areas of the sea, migrating to rivers during the spawning season. Both species have a relatively long, sometimes high body, covered with an unusually large dark golden scales. Fishermen around the world are constantly competing in who can catch the largest trophy. The record catches of the “river king” in Russia and in the world will be discussed in the article.

Maximum weight and length of adult carp

Common carp lives about 30–35 years. However, its growth is suspended after about the first eight years of life. By this time, the fish can reach quite solid dimensions: the body length of an adult specimen usually reaches 1 meter with a weight of a little more than 20 kilograms.

The standard length of a golden handsome is 50–70 cm with a mass of 4–6 kg. If we consider the growth dynamics by years, then at the age of 2 years, his body increases to about 10 cm with a weight of 25-30 g. In a favorable environment, at the age of 3 years, it will already weigh 450-500 g, and by the fourth year (with the onset of puberty) weight is 2 kg.

Important! The best season for productive hunting for large carp is the beginning of spring - early autumn, and the time of day - night. Everything is explained by the fact that after wintering this fish leaves the pit in which it slept, and begins an active lifestyle, and at night it rises almost to the shore, trying to get food.

The largest carp caught in the world

The presented species of fish lives in a wild river, where often there is a shortage of feed reserves. In addition, not only lone lovers, but also trappers began to catch it uncontrollably. These factors do not give the marine life the opportunity to achieve the same impressive dimensions as the carp.

When fishing for float tackle, the largest catch can be a fish weighing only 1-2 kg. A larger individual is taken for special carp equipment, which allows fishing at a considerable distance from the coast.

Did you know? Pheasant carp multiplies very quickly in any reservoir. For example, in the Australian Murray River, its population is 80% of all fish.

Since carp is a domesticated form of carp, then we will talk about the largest specimen that we managed to catch in the world. In cultural farms, this species of marine life hits record figures for body size.

The largest carp caught in 1937 in Belgium on Lake Ostend. The fishermen then caught the treasured trophy weighing as much as 190 kg. The length of the giant fish was 3.5 m. At the time of capture, this giant was also of considerable age - he was about 30 years old. Given the advanced age and disease, the "river king" had almost no resistance. Until today, it is he who is considered the largest carp, caught in the world. After the capture, the fish lived another 9 years, swimming in a specially equipped pool.

What is the largest common carp caught in Russia

In Russia, a record carp was caught closer to the end of the 18th century on the Voronezh River in Lebedyansky Uyezd. The specimen had a mass of 69.6 kg with a length of 1 m and a width of 70 cm. The fish was caught not in an amateur fishing rod, but in a fishing net. Information about the largest catch is not absolutely reliable, since they were transmitted to the Moscow Society of Hunters and Fishers by simple eyewitnesses.

The official record for catching a record large carp in the Russian Federation was recorded in 1996. It happened on the Volga River in the Narimanovo region. Weighed the coveted trophy of 48 kg. However, the name of the lucky fisherman, unfortunately, could not be found.

Important! Catching a really big carp in Russia today is possible only in the Far East or in the Astrakhan region.

Every year, information on catching carp, weighing more than 15 kg, is found less and less. Correcting the current state of affairs can fishing according to the “Catch and Release” rule - only then slowly growing fish can reach its maximum size.