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Kentucky Department of Fish & Wildlife Resources

Asian Carp

Carp

Click on each fish species for more detailed information.

Grass Carp

Grass Carp

A large fish with a wide head, robust body, and large, dark-edged scales

Color is dark olive above, becoming silvery or white on the sides and belly

Adults grow to about 4 ft. (100 lbs.)

Common Carp

Common Carp

A large, deep-bodied fish with two short barbels on each side of the mouth, large scales, and long dorsal fin

Color is olive to brassy on the back and sides with a pale yellow belly and orange tinted lower fins

Adults grow to about 4 ft. (80 lbs.), but fish in the 12-30 in. (1-20 lb.) size range are most common

Silver Carp

Silver Carp

Referred to as an Invasive Carp

Distinguished from other fish by having the eye below the midline of the head
Differ from Bighead Carp by having a keel extending from the anus to the origin of the pectoral fins
Known for their jumping behavior

Adults grow up to 4 ft., weighing over 75 lbs., but adults more commonly range from 10-20 lbs.

Bighead Carp

Bighead Carp

Referred to as an Invasive Carp
Distinguished from other fish by having the eye below the midline of the head
Differ from Silver Carp by having a keel that ends between the pelvic fins

Adults grow to about 4 ft. (100 lbs.)

Black Carp

Black Carp

Referred to as an Invasive Carp
A large, darkly colored fish with a long, stout body, short head, and conical snout
Differ from Grass Carp by having darker body and fins, narrower head and more pointed snout

Adults grow to about 6 ft. (150 lbs.)