Carp

Deep, powerful body with a long top fin and four whiskers (barbels) at the mouth: two at the corners and two smaller ones on the top lip.

Common carp are fully covered in neat bronze-gold scales. Mirror carp have a few large, scattered scales. Leather carp have almost none. They're all the same species. Crucian carp and goldfish have no barbels at all.

Commercial fisheries, lakes, gravel pits and estate lakes. Some rivers and canals hold them too.

In summer look near the surface on sunny days, in the margins, under overhanging trees, around lily pads and at the end of the wind. In winter they gather in deeper, sheltered water and move less.

Carp grub along the bottom for bloodworm, snails, shrimps and seeds, sucking up mouthfuls of silt and blowing out what they don't want. Signs they're feeding: patches of bubbles, clouded water and fish 'head and shouldering' out of the water.

They feed hardest in warm weather, from late spring to autumn, often early and late in the day.

Big carp must go on a padded unhooking mat or cradle. Keep them low, wet them often and never stand up holding one. Most fisheries require a mat, a big landing net and antiseptic for the hook hole.