Bighead Carp

Asian Carp Overview
Asian Carp Documents	Common Carp
Bighead Carp	Grass Carp
Black Carp	Silver Carp

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Hypophthalmichthys nobilis

Similar to the silver carp, the bighead carp eats plankton and sometimes decaying leaves. They rarely jump, and they grow much larger than silver carp. When farmed along with catfish, the two species grow well together.

Bighead carp are more frequently eaten in the rest of the world than are the other Asian carp. They are federally listed as injurious species, which means bringing these fish into the US or transporting them across state lines is illegal. Because they reproduce quickly and eat the plankton that other native species depend on, they are considered an invasive fish but are already established in most of the Mississippi River (map).

Statistics:

Maximum length 55 inches
Maximum weight 110 pounds

For more information:

USGS Bighead Carp Fact Sheet
Minnesota DNR Asian Carp Page
USGS Fact Sheet: Bigheaded (Silver and Bighead) Carp
Federal Injurious Species Listing

A fisherman holding a bighead carp