Grass Carp or Amurs like to eat soft weeds and algae.   They should be stocked at 5 to 25 to the acre, based on the amount of soft weeds and algae covering the pond.  Carp do not eat stiff, hard plants.  See the Chart below for a list of what they eat and don’t prefer. 

If you have an extensive algae problem it can be effective to team Carp up with Tilapia for a Season to knock it back.  Tilapia eat their weight in soft weeds and algae daily, and go from 1″ to 10″+ in a single Season.  Just be aware that they will die if pond water temperature drops below 60 degrees in winter.

Carp will help keep your pond clear of many varieties of aquatic weeds if you stock them according to the number recommended for the surface acres in your pond or lake.  They are primarily vegetarians and will prefer the soft weeds and algae, leaving the floating plants alone.   They eat it back, they don’t kill it, so you need enough to maintain your pond based on your pond’s growth rate of the weeds and algae.

Once Carp get your undesirable soft weed and algae under control they should do a good job for you for about 6 to 8 years.  Carp have been known to live up to 20 years in healthy ponds and lakes, and grow from 40 to 100 lbs.  Most Carp will likely die at 6 to 10 years of age.  You should add more Carp at that point to replace those that die from injury or old age.   They are most effective at eating back your soft weeds and algae for 6 to 8 years.

Grass Carp grow quickly.  The 8″ to 10″ Carp fingerlings that are stocked in the Spring can reach 18″ by Fall.  They primarily spawn in streams with moving water, so they are very unlikely to spawn in a pond.  Stocking with Sterile Grass Carp takes away any concern over breeding in ponds.   Fertilizing your pond will cause an increase in weed growth, but then weed growth will average back out again.  The number of Carp needed may vary based on the state of your pond and management of it.

If you overstock Carp for quick weed clean up and they clear the weeds in your pond, they will then look for other food sources, including desirable Lilies and floating plants that provide habitat and nutrients in your pond.  You may need to remove some Carp at that point or they may start rooting up the bottom of your pond and Dam, keeping the pond water murky. 

If you have adult Bass in your pond it is best to stock 12″ to 14″ long Carp.  A Bass will eat anything it can get it’s mouth around.   We offer 12″+ Carp in the Fall on our Large Fish Sale if you the need bigger size.  At a Fish Day the Carp are 8″ to 10″ long.

If you stock Carp in the fall or winter, plan to increase the number by 20% due to loss over the winter.  Stocking Carp in the Spring when pond vegetation is blooming will result in fewer lost Carp.

If you are feeding pelleted food to your pond fish some of your Carp may try eating the pellets and get hooked on them.  If they do, they become like lazy Catfish and will hang around waiting for feeding time.  They stop eating the same amount of weeds and algae when this happens.  These lazy Carp should be removed from your pond, as they will no longer work hard at eating your pond weeds and they will drive up your Feed Bill.

Carp are strong fighters when they are caught on a rod, but they can be difficult to catch.  Chumming with corn and fishing with cherry tomatoes, or floating some pinched white bread on a hook are some of the more successful ways to attract them.  Carp are commonly eaten in many Asian Nations.  They can be as tasty as Catfish if prepared well but are extra bony.  They have very firm flesh when filleted.

A Note about Sterile Carp.  Alabama and Mississippi do NOT require Carp to be sterile because Carp cannot successfully reproduce in a closed water system like a pond or lake.  

Georgia and Florida DO require only Certified Sterile Carp to be sold.  Georgia requires extensive tracking and reporting on every individual Carp sold and on every individual person that bought them.  And they want this information maintained and reported on for 12 months after the sale of each Carp.  This is something we are not willing to participate in, so we no longer offer Carp in Georgia. 

We only offer regular non-Sterile Carp in Alabama and Mississippi now.  Anyone is welcome to come to a Fish Day in Alabama or Mississippi and buy Carp.  We post this information to help you be aware of your State requirement on Carp.

We don’t hold Fish Days in Florida, but we do offer Direct Deliveries in some parts of Florida for all fish except Carp or Bass.  Contact us to ask for a Direct Delivery Quote if interested.