Bighead Carp
Bighead Carp is an invasive species native to China, not a target fish in Canada. Only a handful of individual fish have ever been caught in Canadian waters — all in western Lake Erie between 2000 and 2003 — with no established population confirmed.
In Canada, this fish is a conservation concern, not a fishery. If you catch one, report it to Fisheries and Oceans Canada.
Also known as Asian carp, bigheaded carp, carpe à grosse tête
- Deep-bodied fish with a disproportionately large, scaleless head and a wide, upturned, toothless mouth — the oversized head is the clearest field ID marker.
- Dark grey on the back and sides with irregular grey-to-black blotches; cream-coloured underside; small, curved scales on the body.
- Eyes sit noticeably below the midline of the body — lower than on most fish you'd encounter in Canadian waters.
- Can exceed 40 kg (88 lbs) and reach 1.5 m in length; most individuals encountered in North American waters run 15–35 kg.
What to know
Habitat Distribution
- Native to rivers and lakes in southern and central China; introduced to North America in the early 1970s for aquaculture use.
- No established population exists in Canadian waters. Only three confirmed captures have occurred, all in western Lake Erie between 2000 and 2003, believed to be intentional releases.
- Established wild populations exist throughout the Mississippi River Basin in the U.S., with fish moving northward through connected river systems toward the Great Lakes.
- Prefer large, warm-to-moderate river systems with open water; filter-feed in the water column rather than holding tight to bottom structure.
Key Locations
- Western Lake Erie — the only Canadian waters where individual Bighead Carp have been confirmed (three fish, 2000–2003); active DFO surveillance continues here.
- Great Lakes basin broadly — DFO and the Invasive Carp Canada program monitor rivers including the Maitland, Bayfield, Pine, Sauble, and St. Clair for any sign of carp movement into Canadian waters.
Specific Spots
- Not applicable as a target fishery in Canada — no established population exists in Canadian waters.
- In U.S. river systems where they are established, they roam open water mid-column filtering plankton rather than holding to specific structure.
Bighead Carp FAQ
Answers from onWater's species guide.
How do you catch Bighead Carp?
Bighead Carp is not targeted by anglers in Canada and has no established population here. The relevant action for any angler who encounters one is to report it, not to fish for it.
What do Bighead Carp eat?
Filter-feeders that strain zooplankton and phytoplankton (microscopic animals and plants) directly from the water column, they do not chase or strike at lures or bait in any conventional sense.
Where do Bighead Carp live?
Native to rivers and lakes in southern and central China; introduced to North America in the early 1970s for aquaculture use. No established population exists in Canadian waters. Only three confirmed captures have occurred, all in western Lake Erie between 2000 and 2003, believed to be intentional releases.
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