Sales on the back and upper sides are dark-edged, with a dark spot at the base. Two barbels are located at each corner of the mouth on the upper jaw. Large adults have reddish-oragne anal and tail fin. They measure 10 to 43 inches in length and weigh from 1 pound to 42 pounds. They spawn in shallow water from March through July.
Carp eat clams, zooplankton, insects, crawfish and plants.
Use little or no weight to catch one. The meat is considered excellent eating and is firm. There is a row of cartilage type bone in each fillet that should be removed prior to cooking. Back To Top Northern Pike Northern Pike have dusky olive-green back and sides with rows of light oval spots. Dorsal, anal and tail fin have round to oblong dakened spots.