Ghost carp fall into Cyprinidae freshwater fish family like the other carp varieties. Actually, it is a hybrid between a mirror carp and a koi carp or two ghost carps. Such a breeding system is responsible for its unique color variations. They are native to Japan and imported to other countries later. Some Asian, European, and North American water sources contain many of them via selective breeding. The local and tourist anglers can catch these fishes throughout the year. Let’s have a look at the overall fishing process.
Ghost Carp Fishing
Step 1: knowing the lifestyle of ghost carp
Having clear ideas about a particular fish has a significant impact on your fishing session. They inherit some carp qualities such as strength, environment adaptation, etc. Many think that they are more aggressive than the koi breeds, which is not true at all. You should prioritize them instead because they are bigger and are less prone to diseases. Their diet includes insects, larva, mollusks, shrimps, crustaceans, and aquatic vegetables. They are not predatory and hardly consume any fishes. However, they eat fish’s eggs occasionally. They get used to most types of foods offered by the fishery authorities. More food is needed during their breed period. It lasts for almost two months. During the spawning period, the female body gets bigger and longer. Both parents find suitable hiding places covered by plants to protect the eggs. Despite taking care of the eggs for a long time, they eat most of their own eggs after spawning. People should not cultivate them with any aggressive fish.
Step 2: Choosing a fishery
These carps are part of ecosystems with zero or less current. Hence, they are available in slow-moving lakes and ponds. They are quite rare in public waterways. Only some private and commercial fisheries yield ghost carps. The reason is obvious; they are only produced by two specific breed mixing. Two thousand years ago, only the wealthiest fishery owners used to grow them. Now, the number increased but still not enough to cover the people’s demand. That’s why, take recommendations from experts, google the close locations, and decide accordingly.
Step 3: Picking the right day
These fishes stay in shallow portions when the water temperature is high. So, a bright sunny day gives the maximum output. During cold hours, they migrate to the deeper water for either warmth or safety. They are usually more active at night and after dawn. A large number of ghost carps swim in the shallower areas in the early morning. Avoid cold seasons, windy days, rainy days because you may end up getting zero fish.
Step 4: Checking all habitat
They love to live in areas with water lilies, soft, vegetative sediments. Also, places full of food are on their priority list. If the fishery has some underwater structures, lodges, don’t miss these spots. Focus on snags and alongside rush beds too. Apart from these, they can be found anywhere in shallow water.
Step 5: Identifying a ghost carp
Ghost carp’s lifespan can be 40 to 50 years. Their features change a lot due to the transition from juvenile to mature fish. Young fishes look similar to goldfish considering both color and appearance. One differentiating characteristic is the belly shape; ghost carps have a flatter stomach. An adult fish usually reaches up to 31.5 inches. The name suits their appearance a lot. A large group of carp has ghostly bodies with dark metallic scales, indeed. Over time, the fish farmers get cream and gold ghost carps by crossing more colored species. No matter how the coloration differs from each other, all of them have a metallic sheen. A triangular head and a small mouth are part of their symmetric structure. They typically have dark spots on the body and face.
Step 6: Using the right bait combination
These carps take corn, peas, bread bait, boilies, pellets, etc. The commercial carp baits are available in all tackle stores at a cheap rate. Many use two or more common ingredients to prepare lures themselves. For example, the combination of flour, cornmeal, and water forms an excellent ghost carp boilie. Try to use sweet fruit flavors to increase the efficiency of attractants. Carry at least three sizes of pellets and boilies. If you run out of bait, you can use earthworms, maggots, shrimp, clam, potato, etc. Wash them thoroughly before using and form any rig you want.
Step 7: Applying angling techniques
The most famous ghost carp fishing techniques are rod and reel fishing and pole fishing. They may feed on any layer. The water surface often contains insects, larva, bushes, which are their food. The free lining method is for catching these fishes with a bread piece. You can capture them standing on the shoreline. Opt for float fishing to drag giant ghost carps from the mid or bottom sections. A few beginners use bow fishing. Avoid it because it kills the fishes, and ghost carps are caught for mainly decorative purposes.
Their growth is very impressive, even in rough conditions. So, if you are with poorly-constructed items, they can’t withstand the fish’s load. Whatever you prefer, make sure to bring strong gear.
Step 8: Getting food bites
We think that the bite rate relies on nothing but practices. Tracing a solo fish is not a wise decision if they swim in groups in the lake. An incredible means to attract more fishes in a specific area is pre-baiting. All you have to do is place boilie crumbs or pellets for some minutes. Once a fish gains confidence about the delicious food supply, it will stay in that place. It will also bring more fishes there. Almost all newcomers make the silly mistake of throwing food right after the fish. Then, it escapes because of getting scared. Take place a few meters away from a fish that is coming ahead. Cast your line as silently as possible and wait. Do not start reeling in too soon or too late. When the hook enters its mouth, pull the line out of water. Retrieve the ghost carp carefully.