Species

Asp

A predatory member of the carp family, also called Schied in German, that strikes into shoals of small fish at the surface and loves fast lures.

Leuciscus aspius

Photo: Karelj, Wikimedia Commons, Public domain, adjusted to 3:2

Spawning: April to June, in flowing water over gravel (general guide, varies by region)
German Red List: not threatened
Typical method: Lure fishing (spinning) with fast-retrieved lures
Top bait: Slim spoon

Plan a day fishing for Asp

How to recognise it

Very slim, streamlined, silver body
Large, upturned mouth, the gape reaches below the eye
Sharp, scaled keel between the pelvic and anal fins

Easily confused with: Young asp look like bleak or chub; a typical sign is the large, upturned mouth that reaches below the eye.

How to catch it

Methods: Lure fishing (spinning) with fast-retrieved lures, Surface fishing, Fly fishing with streamers

Baits: Slim spoon, Plug (crankbait), Surface lure, Streamer

Summer to autumn, especially in the morning and evening, when it hunts at the surface.

Habitat and food

Larger flowing rivers and large lakes east of the Rhine into Eastern Europe; hunts in open water, often at groynes, weirs, bridge piers and inflows.

A peaceful fish when young, later a predator that mainly hunts small fish such as bleak.

Size and age

Up to 80 cm, maximum 120 cm (Wikipedia). FishBase: max. 120 cm, heaviest published weight 9.0 kg, maximum age 11 years.

Protection and rules

Conservation status: German Red List (freshwater fish 2023): not threatened. IUCN: not threatened (Least Concern, 2022). In the EU it is listed as a species of Community interest in Annex II of the Habitats Directive (FFH-Richtlinie).

Asp: closed season and minimum size by German state

These rules apply in Germany only. Fishing in the UK, the USA or elsewhere? The local rules apply there (link below).

Baden-Württembergminimum size 40 cm · closed season 01.03. to 31.05. only in some waters
Bavariaminimum size 40 cm · closed season 01.03. to 30.04.
Berlinminimum size 40 cm · closed season 01.04. to 30.06.
Brandenburgminimum size 40 cm · closed season 01.04. to 30.06.
Bremenminimum size 40 cm
Hamburgminimum size 50 cm
Mecklenburg-Western Pomeraniaminimum size 35 cm
Lower Saxonyprotected all year · minimum size 40 cm only in some waters
Saxonyminimum size 40 cm · closed season 01.01. to 31.05.
Saxony-Anhaltminimum size 40 cm
Schleswig-Holsteinminimum size 50 cm
Thuringiaprotected all year

From the official state fisheries regulations, retrieved 2026-10-11. All rules by state

Check the rules

In Germany, closed seasons and minimum sizes are set by each state and can be stricter for single waters. All German rules by state, with the legal source. Outside Germany, the local rules apply: licence and agency by country.

In the kitchen

Very bony (Wikipedia mentions 137 intermuscular bones), so it is usually turned into minced fish or fish cakes.

Sources (3)

Last checked 2026-10-18. Found a mistake? Write to [email protected].

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