Fish, carp family
Common carp
- Maximum length
- 120cm
- Maximum weight
- 37kg
- Best water temperature
- 18–28 °C
- Water today (4.0 °C)
- Tolerates it, but slowed down
- Fishing districts near where it occurs
- 68
About the species Common carp
How to recognise it
Massive tall body, two pairs of barbels on the upper jaw and a long dorsal fin. It may be fully scaled, have only a few large scales (mirror) or be almost naked (leather).
Where it lives
Slow and still waters with a soft bottom: reservoirs, ponds, oxbows and lowland rivers.
What it feeds on
Omnivore. Insect larvae, worms, molluscs, plants and grains.
Spawning
In May and June in shallow, overgrown water, once the water warms up.
It is not very active in winter; from spring to autumn it is mainly caught near the bottom.
Closed season, minimum size and daily limit
What the Fisheries Act says about common carp. For guidance only; check it in the fishing regulations of the district.
Closed season
§ 10 of the Decree- 15 Mar – 31 May in carp waters (does not apply 1 – 31 May at competitions or on other water bodies)
this species may not be fishedoutside this period
It does not depend on the closed season for all fish by water type. You can find this and the other rules on the fishing district page in the Law and fishing rules section.
Minimum size
§ 12 of the Decree40 cm
below the size limit: return it to the waterfrom the size limit: you may keep it
You must not keep a fish shorter than 40 cm. The total length is measured from the front of the head to the end of the longest ray of the tail fin (§ 12, para. 4). The district user may raise the size; the one in the permit and the fishing regulations applies.
Daily limit
§ 14 of the Decree- 2ksGreen groupeel, carp, burbot, zander, pike, tench, barbel, lake brown trout, brown trout, grayling (combined)
The limit applies per day, also when fishing in several districts. The district user may set a lower limit in the permit, in which case the stricter one applies.
Summary of Act no. 216/2018 Coll. and Decree no. 381/2018 Coll. (as of 6 Nov 2026). It may be out of date or contain an error, and exceptions apply on some waters. The permit and the fishing regulations of the district are binding. The fishing law, rule by rule.
Water temperature and requirements
At what temperature the species is active and how well today's water suits it.
Tolerates it, but slowed downTypical water in Slovakia is 4.0 °C today. The species tolerates this temperature (3 to 35 °C), but the water is colder than the ideal 18 to 28 °C. Fish tend to be slower and pickier.
- tolerates 3 to 35 °C
- best 18 to 28 °C
- spawning at 18 to 24 °C
- typical water today 4.0 °C
- Length
- up to 120 cm
- Weight
- up to 37 kg
- Oxygen
- Tolerates low oxygen
- Position in the food chain
- 3,1omnivore and small animals
The values are indicative and come from the FishBase database. In a particular water, fish behave according to the weather, air pressure, oxygen and food.
Where it was recorded
Fishing districts around which a record of this species exists (GBIF).
- Štrkovisko Oširíd
- Čierna voda č. 1
- Chorvátsky kanál
- Štrkovisko U horára
- OR Melečka č. 1
- OR Melečka č. 2
- Štrkovisko Lúčky
- Štrkovisko Zelená voda 2
- Štrkovisko Zrkadlový Háj
- Dunaj č. 3 – zdrž VD (Hrušov – Čunovo)
- Dunaj č. 4
- Myjava č. 1
- Myjava č. 2a
- Dunaj č. 3 – MR Malý Zemník
- Dunaj č. 3 – MR Veľký Zemník
- Štrkovisko Kalinkovo
- Štrkovisko Rohlík
- Štrkovisko Rovinka Za Hrádzu
- Štrkovisko Rusovce
- VN Železná studnička č. 2
- VN Železná studnička č. 3
- Štrkovisko Ľadová voda – Dunajek
- Štrkovisko Ivanka pri Dunaji
- BVN Stará Tehelňa
- Štrkovisko Zelená voda 1
- Malý Dunaj č. 6
- Štrkovisko Kuchajda
- Štrkovisko Malé Čunovo
- Štrkovisko Štrkovec
- Štrkovisko Veľké Čunovo
- MR Kochanová
- Štrkovisko Drahovce č. 1
- Štrkovisko Drahovce č. 1a
- Štrkovisko Horná Streda č. 4
- Štrkovisko Klčoviny
- Štrkovisko Kňazová
68 fishing districts in total, 36 shown. Show on map
Similar species
Photo credits
- Common carp: Photo: George Chernilevsky, CC BY-SA 3.0, Wikimedia Commons
- Prussian carp: Photo: George Chernilevsky, CC BY-SA 3.0, Wikimedia Commons
- Grass carp: Photo: Emőke Dénes, CC BY-SA 4.0, Wikimedia Commons
Minimum sizes, protection periods and permitted fishing methods are set by the fishing regulations and the conditions of the specific fishing district. Check them before you fish.