RIVER FISH · Warm water & soft bottoms
Common carp
Cyprinus carpio
A large, deep-bodied nonnative fish with barbels near the mouth, now established in many U.S. rivers, lakes and reservoirs.
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Meet the fish
- Habitat
- Warm lakes, reservoirs, rivers and backwaters, often over soft bottoms and in nutrient-rich water.
- On the menu
- Omnivorous bottom feeding on invertebrates, plant material, detritus and other available food.
- Size context
- A large-bodied fish that commonly exceeds 20 inches in productive waters and can grow substantially larger.
- Range & local context
- Native to Eurasia and introduced widely across North America, where established populations occur in many major watersheds.
Living with the river
Water & habitat
Water temperature, shallow access and soft-bottom habitat can matter more than a single main-channel flow reading.
Seasonal life
Spawning occurs in shallow vegetated water during warm periods, often with visible groups of fish in flooded or shoreline habitat.
Before you go
Common carp are nonnative and can damage aquatic vegetation and water clarity in some systems. Do not confuse them with the separate group often called invasive carp.
Use the linked agencies and the relevant river guide for current regulations, closures and consumption advisories. A species profile is not a fishing license or a statement that harvest is allowed.
Editorial review: . Regional size examples are labeled; maximum lengths are not typical sizes.
More river fish
Keep exploring species connected to the same river-guide network.