Bighead carp (Hypophthalmichthys nobilis) is a freshwater, brackish species recorded in Hong Kong, Taiwan, United States. It is mainly found over estuary, at depths of ≥ 0 m. The main season in Hong Kong, Taiwan, United States runs all year.
Scientific name: Hypophthalmichthys nobilis · Water: Freshwater, Brackish · Season: All year · Also known as: Bighead Carp
Size: up to 146 cm
Weight: up to 40 kg
The Bighead carp is a large filter-feeder with a massive scaleless head, a wide mouth and eyes set very low, mottled silver-grey as an adult; it strains zooplankton and algae through its gill rakers and is one of China's four famous domestic fishes. Taiwan's reservoirs are its stronghold: it is catchable all year, spawns around March to June, and Zengwen reservoir has produced fish over 30 kg, challenged with float or ping-pong rigs and valued highly as food. In the United States it was imported from Asia in the 1970s to clear plankton from sewage and aquaculture ponds, escaped into the Mississippi basin and is now classed as a highly destructive invasive: Congress banned live imports in December 2010, New York and Illinois outlaw possession of live fish, and Missouri has banned live bighead carp as bait since 2007. It does not leap when startled as the silver carp does, but it feeds at the surface, which makes it a favourite bowfishing target; rod anglers use the dough-ball suspension method or legal snagging. Spring high water and summer surface-feeding schools are the best windows, and it is sold live in Asian markets with the head the most prized cut. Maximum about 146 cm standard length and 40 kg, with a lifespan of about 20 years. IUCN lists it as Data Deficient.
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