Carp or kutum: interesting facts about fish from the carp family

Description of the fish

Translated from Persian, “kutum” means “head”. And in fact: if we consider the proportions of the whole body, the head is much larger.

The kutum fish itself is not particularly large in size. Its length reaches 50 centimeters and its weight ranges from 3 to 4 kilograms. Sometimes there are still individuals up to 70 centimeters long and weighing about 7 kilograms, but this is very rare. Females differ significantly from males, being 20% ​​larger in size.

In its color, this individual is no different from other inhabitants of lightly salted waters. The back is dark green, the sides are silver, and the belly is white. It is rare to find a fish with a dark gray color throughout the body.

The fin located on the back is trapezoidal in shape and colored dark gray. The tail is also painted in the same color, which looks exactly like the letter “V” of the Latin alphabet. The pectoral and pelvic fins are slightly lighter. The entire body is covered with large scales.

The muzzle of the kutum fish is slightly rounded. The upper jaw protrudes significantly forward over the lower jaw. The eyes are small, slightly bulging.

Kinds

Varieties of kutum include fish such as carp, roach, roach, chub and shemae.

The carp, unlike the cutum, is slightly larger in size. Its body reaches 75 centimeters, and its weight can reach up to 7 kilograms. Reproduction also differs. This individual lays eggs exclusively on plants, and the carp lays eggs only on rocky surfaces. Comparing the surface of the body, it can be noted that the carp has significantly small and sparse scales.

Roach is almost indistinguishable from kutum in appearance. Many years ago, kutum was called the “roach king.” It was generally accepted that, having caught this individual at the beginning of fishing, it should immediately be released back into the water.

It is necessary to mention the chub, roach and shemai. They all belong to the same clan or clan. According to the description, they are no different from other representatives of the “cyprinidae” family. They are distinguished from kutum and carp only by their habitat. If the chub, roach and shemae are “monogamous” and prefer to live in one place, then our 2 species are migratory fish that live in seas and rivers.

Lifestyle and habitat

The Caspian Sea is considered to be the original birthplace of the carp. It was from there that it spread to the Azov and Black Seas. is rare in the Volga Most often in the spring, with schools of passing fish - bream, roach, etc. But he does not rise high along the river.

It’s not found at all in the Ural River. The reason for this is most likely that these rivers are quite slow. And our swimmer chooses fast rivers with a rocky bottom and cool water. In the Dnieper and in many tributaries it is also difficult to see; it is generally not found above the rapids. Of the tributaries of the Dnieper, he chose some, like the Desna and Svisloch, where the current is faster.

But it is often found in the Dniester, Bug and Don. The carp is common in the Don River and reaches Voronezh. It can also look into the tributaries - Udu and Oskol, but is already considered a rare fish here. However, as in Kuban.

Other countries besides Russia are also familiar with it. For example, Azerbaijan, Iraq, Iran, Kazakhstan, Belarus, Moldova, Turkey, Turkmenistan. But there it is more often called “kutum”. He has not been studied enough, his way of life is little known. Largely due to the fact that he has always been a migratory fish.

And now, besides, it has become a rarity. It lives in schools on the coast, in the open sea and at river mouths. At the end of summer or beginning of autumn, it enters the rivers a little higher, spawns, spends the winter here and returns back. He is timid, cautious and quick.

What to fish with

The best fishing places are the basins of the Volga, Caspian Sea, Dniester, Terek and Bug rivers. The largest among the countries in terms of the number of these “carp” individuals are Azerbaijan, Iran and Dagestan. It is found extremely rarely in the regions of Russia, which is why it is difficult to find kutum in the reservoirs of this country.

When choosing sea fishing, you need to stock up on high-quality, durable gear: sinkers, a strong spinning rod, a set of hooks and a net to catch fish with shrimp.

Fishing for this sea creature is most similar to wild hunting. When catching this marine life on the river, choose early morning or late evening. It is at this time that marine life emerges from the depths closer to the mouth of the river. This time is associated with the moment the marine individual searches for food. It is important that at the time of fishing you better not make any noise. Kutum is very careful and, suspecting danger, immediately hides and then does not appear in sight for a long time.

You can catch an individual of the carp family using snails or shrimp for bait. Pieces of dough or shell meat are suitable as feeding.

Where is kutum caught?

Previously, kutum specimens were practically never found in our rivers. But in the early 2000s, cases of catching this fish were noted. In Central Russia, kutum fish is quite rare and is rarely caught by our fishermen. Therefore, catching kutum is considered a great achievement for an amateur fisherman. It is caught, as mentioned above, in Azerbaijan, Iran, Dagestan, as well as on the Volga, in the Caspian Sea, on the Dniester, Terek and Bug rivers.

Nutrition and lifestyle

The main food for kutum fish are various mollusks, insects, crustaceans and worms. To search for food, it goes out late in the evening or early in the morning. Due to his extreme caution, he has to constantly look closely. Noticing the danger, Kutum hides at the same moment. After waiting some time, he goes back out.

The fish is very active and mobile. Most of the time it prefers to live in the depths of the sea, where it finds a variety of food for itself. The preferred depth is no more than 20 meters.

Huge schools of fish can be found from the northern side of Iran to the very bottom of the Volga River. Swimming into the Volga delta, the kutum rapidly rises up more than 60 kilometers.

Nutrition

The main food is mollusks, insects, crustaceans and worms. He goes hunting in the late evening or very early in the morning. He peers intently and carefully into the surrounding water, trying to notice an unexpected danger in time. His own hunting is like extreme fun.

It is necessary to catch a nimble shrimp or amphipod, and at the same time, any movement above the water causes the fish to instantly hide. This proves that our hunter is very nimble and nimble. Not an apathetic individual that will wait for a potential victim to swim with its mouth open. This is real sport here.

Kutum is found in the coastal, lightly salted waters of the sea; the basic part of its life passes here; it catches crustaceans and insects there, but often swims to the mouths of rivers to hunt. At this moment, he himself becomes the prey of successful fishermen. It also goes to fresh waters to spawn.

Reproduction and continuation of life

At the age of 3-4 years, the fish is completely ready for the breeding stage. By this time, the individual had already reached a body length of about 25 centimeters and a weight of approximately 600 grams. Spawning occurs in March or April. For spawning, kutum preferably chooses fresh water.

An important point for the start of spawning is when the water reaches a temperature of about +8C.

Females lay eggs exclusively on vegetation. Their number can reach 40,000 eggs.

The fry are held onto the vegetation using small antennae. That skin lives until it has yolk reserves. Then the fry detaches and goes on an independent search for food. Up to two years of age, the fry live exclusively in fresh water, and then go to the open sea.

The average lifespan of a fish is about 10 years. During the entire life cycle, the annual growth of kutum is 7-9 centimeters.

Fishing for kutum

> What to catch > Other fish > Fishing for kutum

Kutum is a semi-anadromous fish and belongs to the carp family, a subspecies of carp. This interesting and quite rare fish in the central regions mainly lives in the southwest of the Caspian Sea basin. It can be found in the northern part of the Caspian Sea, on the Volga and Ural rivers. It lives in large numbers at the mouths of the Atrek and Terek rivers. Prefers rivers where there is a fast current and a rocky bottom with great depths of up to 20 meters. Kutum feeds in desalinated areas of the sea and goes into rivers to spawn; today the population of this fish has decreased significantly due to environmental deterioration and overfishing.

On some rivers there are small populations of sedentary kutum, which does not enter the sea. Fishing for kutum

It is carried out in Dagestan, Azerbaijan, the Volga delta, the Caspian Sea, and the Bug and Dniester rivers.

Kutum has a low body equal in height to the length of the head. The color of the back is dark with a greenish tint. The sides of the fish are light brown with a golden tint. The belly is white, the dorsal and lateral fins are dark in color, the rest are light gray. The maximum length is 75 cm, and the weight is 6 kg. Spawning age begins at 3-4 years, life expectancy is about 8-9 years. Females are usually slightly larger than males.

It feeds on kutum, zooplankton, eggs of other fish, mollusks, as well as various insects which it collects from the surface of the water.

Fishing for kutum

The activity is very interesting - this is a strong, careful and fast fish. Once hooked, kutum always offers strong resistance and is valuable prey in the places where it lives. Kutum has a delicious taste and can be used to prepare many dishes. This fish is fried, smoked, dried, stewed and cured; the kutum fish soup is very tasty and rich.

Fishing for kutum

on the river and at sea has its differences. At the end of winter, kutum gathers in schools off the southern coast of the Caspian Sea, and begins a spawning run to the north, all the time moving parallel to the coast. Its purposeful movement goes to the upper reaches of rivers that flow into the Caspian Sea. During the spawning period, fish, as a rule, stay as close as possible to deep rocky areas of the coast and almost never go to shallow sandy beaches. At this time, numerous groups of fishermen are already waiting for Kutum on the coastal rocks.

Fishing for kutum occurs in the east wind and all you need to catch this magnificent fish is passion and reliable gear. Usually, kutum are caught from coastal rocks using docks. A rod for bottom fishing is equipped with a strong fishing line with two or less than three leashes and a heavy sinker of 120-150 grams. Some local amateurs attach a piece of soft wire called a “mustache” to the sinker as an additional weight. These whiskers play their role in the rig; they cling to the bottom like an anchor and do not allow the coastal current to carry away the rig.

Fishing for kutum

hooks No. 4-4.5 are usually used. Fishermen prefer to use bamboo rods for catching kutum; the fact is that even the most modern carbon fiber spinning rods for fishing on the windswept coast cannot compete with bamboo rods. Of course, bamboo sticks also have their drawbacks; a beginner may simply not notice a fish bite. At first, an inexperienced fisherman will have to systematically check the bait.

Kutam fish are not picky and readily take earthworms. But kutum is even more willing to bite on amphipods or shrimp, which can be caught directly from the sea with the help of a net without leaving the fishing spot. fishing for kutum in the sea goes

Thus, if you want to fish for kutum

was successful with maximum results, you need a reliable spinning rod, a sufficient supply of hooks and sinkers, a small small spider or a net for catching amphipods and shrimp, endurance, an eastern wind near the coastal rocks and a suitable season for catching kutum. Usually this time is from February to the second half of June.

Catching kutum on river fishing

It works quite well on snails and slugs, which are abundant in coastal meadows and bushes. When going fishing for kutum, always take spare hooks and sinkers with you. Sinkers often get stuck between rocks, and hooks quickly become dull when they hit the rocky coastal bottom.

It should be remembered that the kutum is a very cautious fish and the slightest noise or movement can frighten it very much. He immediately rushes into the depths and hides in the stones and can hide there for an hour, not daring to leave his shelter. He also tries to carefully avoid those places where he was frightened, not only in the daytime, but also at night. Kutum usually feeds early in the morning and also late in the evening and catching kutum

accordingly, it is most productive at dawn or before sunset.

Usually, when fishing for kutum, the fish tries not to reveal its presence in any way in the place where it is fishing, and the fisherman, while the gear is abandoned, must behave very quietly and every second prepares for the upcoming bite and hooking. If the kutum bites, then quickly and reliably, as a rule, first the float will tremble strongly and then sharply go under the water.

The main thing when landing this fish is to turn it to the side as quickly as possible after hooking it and, if possible, keep the line taut and not allow it to move freely.

Of course, the task is not an easy one, Kutum does not like to walk in circles at all and tries to quickly rush from the side, pulling the fishing line to the side, and then letting it move freely. At such moments, he can break the fishing line. Kutum is a strong and hardy fish and tiring him is not an easy task.

But the pleasure of fishing for kutum

you will get the full package, not to mention the delicious dishes that can be prepared from it. Happy fishing!

Published: 12/02/2013

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Interesting Facts

Nobody knew this about an uncommon representative of the carp family:

1. Kutum is a capricious fish. If during the breeding season he doesn’t like something, he immediately changes direction and swims in the other direction.
2. Fishing for kutum in the Astrakhan regions is complicated by collecting the necessary documents. But even this does not stop avid fishermen who catch 300 tons of fish per season.
3. The female has only 1 portion of eggs, and the males “mature” over the course of several days.

Taste characteristics

Kutum fish meat is one of the most valuable delicacies. It contains a lot of proteins, microelements and polysaturated acids, as well as vitamins of groups B, A, E and D. It is important that when consuming a dried product, you consume the maximum amount of all useful microelements, unlike hot-processed dishes.

In terms of taste, the meat of commercial fish is very tender with a sweetish tint. Has no smell. In appearance it looks amazing not only in the photo. It is appetizing, meaty, light.

Description and features

Kutum is a semi-anadromous carp fish, a genus of roach. In general, from the ancient languages ​​of the Persian group, “kutum” is translated as “head”. And in fact, the kutum, unlike the related carp, has a much larger head compared to the proportions of the body.

It has a dark green back, yellowish-silver sides and a light belly. The dorsal fin is trapezoidal in shape, dark in color, as is the tail, which is clearly cut in the shape of a “V”. The remaining fins are light. The line of the back is slightly curved with a small hump.

And the line of the abdomen is straight and smoothly passes into the lower jaw. The fish has a slightly contemptuous appearance, as the lower jaw is slightly raised. The upper jaw is characterized by a blunt ending. This results in a rounded muzzle.

The small eyes are slightly protruding, surrounded by pearl-colored rims. Females grow larger than males. The swim bladder is unlike many fish; its shape is elongated and pointed at the end. Our hero also has large and frequent scales.

Kutum in the photo looks like an enlarged silver keychain for the zodiac sign Pisces. It is elegant, covered in even large scales, an oblong body, and a carved tail. Very suitable for a decoration sample.

Kutum meat and caviar are considered very valuable. They contain a large amount of protein, trace elements and polyunsaturated acids, which are necessary for humans and are easily digestible. They also contain a lot of vitamins B, A, E and D. Moreover, by using dried meat, you practically get an unspent set of all these useful substances, which is slightly lost during hot processing.

Kutum has tender, high-calorie meat with a sweetish taste, without a pungent odor, which reminds us of the generous southern nature that gave us this piece of heavenly pleasure. Once upon a time, relatives or friends from Dagestan sent parcels with dried kutum to central Russia, which was considered a special delicacy and did not spoil during shipment.

Kutum is considered a species of carp that lives in the Black Sea-Azov basin. The carp is slightly larger in size, its length is about 75 cm, weight is about 5-7 kg. Their differences include the method of spawning.

Kutum spawns on plants growing in shallow places, while carp spawns only on stones and pebbles in fast-flowing rivers. The scales of the kutum are larger than those of the carp. However, it would be unfair if we did not mention another relative of kutum - vobla. It turns out that kutum used to be called “tsar roach.”

It was believed that if you caught it at the beginning of fishing, you must release it, otherwise there will be no catch. No wonder it was compared to roach, the famous Astrakhan fish. In terms of meaning and value for local residents, it is almost like kutum for Dagestan. And in appearance they are very similar, both are from the carp family.

And two words about the chub, Azerbaijani roach and shemai (shamayka). They are all from the carp family and are very tasty. Each is a relative of Kutum. Our hero was mistaken for representatives of these fish when he unexpectedly began to enter the rivers after a long break.

The main difference is that these related species most often have residential forms; they have chosen one type of reservoir for their habitat and all forms of life. But kutum and carp are migratory fish, that is, they spend part of their life cycle in the sea, and part in the rivers flowing into it.

This leads to differences in lifestyle, morphology and spawning. Even in nutrition. Each of the above fish can feast on a small frog. Kutum - never. He is picky like an aristocrat.

Commercial significance

“Carp” fish is in great commercial demand. The cuisines of many countries prefer to prepare a variety of delicious dishes from this type of fish. Since this aquatic representative is listed in the Red Book, many fishing enterprises in foreign countries try to grow it for industrial purposes exclusively by artificial means.

Russia is also trying to take the necessary measures to artificially breed fish from the cyprinid family. One of these places is the base of the Medveditsky fish hatchery.