Species

Common carp

A powerful peaceful fish with four barbels that roots around on the bottom for food and fights with huge strength.

Cyprinus carpio

Photo: Dezidor, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 3.0, adjusted to 3:2

Spawning: May to June, from around 18 to 20 °C water temperature (general guide, varies by region)
German Red List: not threatened
Typical method: Bottom fishing with a hair rig
Top bait: Boilies

Plan a day fishing for Common carp

How to recognise it

Two pairs of barbels on the upper lip, the front pair shorter
Long dorsal fin and a mouth it can push out like a tube
Farmed varieties: common (fully scaled), mirror, linear or leather carp

Easily confused with: Can be mistaken for crucian carp or Prussian carp; only the common carp has barbels on the upper lip.

How to catch it

Methods: Bottom fishing with a hair rig, Float fishing, Surface fishing with floating bread

Baits: Boilies, Sweetcorn, Lobworm, Potato

The warmer half of the year from around 8 °C water temperature, often at dusk and at night; in summer also at the surface.

Habitat and food

Warm, shallow, nutrient-rich waters such as ponds, gravel pits and calm river stretches. In winter it retreats to deeper areas.

Roots around for insect larvae, snails and worms; when young it eats zooplankton.

Size and age

Usually 35 to 90 cm, in single cases up to 120 cm and over 40 kg; record carp according to Wikipedia: 51.2 kg (Hungary, 2018). FishBase: maximum age 38 years.

Protection and rules

Conservation status: German Red List (freshwater fish 2023): not threatened. IUCN: not threatened (Least Concern, 2022).

Common carp: 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 35 cm
Bavariaminimum size 35 cm
Berlinminimum size 35 cm
Brandenburgminimum size 35 cm
Hamburgminimum size 35 cm only in some waters
Hessekeep only from 45 to 60 cm · closed season 15.03. to 31.05.
Mecklenburg-Western Pomeraniaminimum size 40 cm
North Rhine-Westphaliaminimum size 35 cm
Rhineland-Palatinateminimum size 35 cmminimum size 35 cm · closed season 01.03. to 14.06. only in some waters
Saarlandminimum size 35 cmminimum size 35 cm · closed season 01.03. to 14.06. only in some waters
Saxonyminimum size 40 cm
Saxony-Anhaltminimum size 35 cm
Schleswig-Holsteinminimum size 35 cm
Thuringiaminimum size 35 cm

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

Many fine intermuscular bones, so it is often scored (cut into thin slices down to the skin); keep it in fresh water first so it does not taste muddy.

Sources (4)

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

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