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Grass Carp

Ctenopharyngodon idella

A large herbivorous freshwater fish often stocked for aquatic vegetation control.

Freshwater
Grass Carp reference image
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration, public-domain, via Wikimedia Commons. Source: Wikimedia Commons.

Identification points

  • Long cylindrical body.
  • Large scales with dark edges.
  • No barbels and a blunt head.

Habitat

lakes, ponds, reservoirs, canals, and slow rivers with vegetation

Bait notes

grass, vegetables, corn, dough bait, and bread

Behavior

feeds heavily on aquatic plants and shoreline vegetation

Caution

Check local size, season, gear, and harvest rules before fishing.

Fishing notes

check local rules because triploid stocking and harvest rules vary