Is it Invasive Grass Carp?
Grass Carp is an invasive fish that has been found in the Great Lakes in small numbers, but are not established in Canada
Grass Carp Features
Grass Carp have LARGE SCALES with dark borders giving a cross-hatched appearance
If you think you have caught a Grass Carp, follow these steps:
1. Report it to the Invading Species Hotline: 1-800-563-7711, or email info@invadingspecies.com, or report via EDDMapS.org/Ontario;
2. Work through this ID guide;
3. If your fish matches ALL of the features of Grass Carp, go to step 4. Otherwise, if the fish cannot be lawfully kept, release it immediately to the waters where it was caught, in a manner that causes the least harm to the fish. OR, if the fish can be lawfully kept, you can either practice catch and release or keep it;
4. Take photographs of the fish from multiple angles with adequate lighting and note your geographic location (e.g. latitude and longitude);
5. If you were unable to reach someone directly in step #1, avoid unintentionally killing native fishes by being certain of your identification before killing a suspected Grass Carp. Ensure you are abiding by all of the laws highlighted in the Ontario Recreational Fishing Regulations Summary; and
6. IMPORTANT: Do NOT release the Grass Carp alive. Kill the fish without damaging the head or eyes. Gut the fish and keep it in a cooler, with its head above the ice. Fisheries and Oceans Canada will collect it! They learn a lot about the fish by conducting analyses on the head and eyes, such as whether or not the fish is fertile or sterile and where it came from.
Invasive Grass Carp Examples
Invasive Grass Carp with SHORT dorsal fin and LARGE SCALES
Invasive Grass Carp with JAWED mouth and NO BARBELS (whiskers). Eyes are low and sit in line mouth
INVASIVE Grass Carp with SLENDER head and body
Common Carp Examples
Common Carp with LONG dorsal fin and LARGE SCALES
Common Carp with SUCKER mouth and BARBELS (whiskers). Eyes sit relatively high on the head
Common Carp with DEEP body
Other Similar Fish
Fallfish with SHORT dorsal fin and moderate scales. Eyes sit relatively high on head
Sucker Species (e.g. White Sucker, pictured) with SUCKER mouth and NO BARRELS (whiskers). Eyes sit high on the head
Smallmouth Buffalo with DEEP body
More Resources
