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Crucians - the latest obsession


Anderoo

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After several years of targetting tench in the spring, I decided to have a change this year and try for crucians. I love crucians and haven't ever fished specifically for them. My biggest was about a pound, caught while float fishing for whatever over 20 years ago, and in recent years they have become more and more rare, as they hybridise with other species like brown goldfish. (Most 'crucians' you see now are nothing of the sort!)

 

So I have been on a crucian hunt and found a few localish waters that do still contain true crucians. I kind of thought that it's now or never really - I wouldn't be surprised if true crucians are gone in my lifetime.

 

I've only had one session so far, a couple of days just before the Wingham fish-in. Traditionalists won't like this, but first line of attack was scaled down tench tactics - little method feeders, 2" light braid hooklengths, size 16 hooks and hair-rigged mini fake corn. It worked though! My first attempt produced 3 crucians over the 2 days, all of them bigger than my old PB - first one was a whopper of 3lb 7oz which looked just enormous and beat any expectations I had:

 

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Returning it:

 

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An absolutely amazing fish!

That night I had another just an ounce lighter at 3lb 6oz. They are such beautiful fish aren't they?

 

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Later that night I had another of 2lb 2oz, which I didn't get a photo of.

 

I will be float fishing for them too, and have also got my pole ready for action :)

 

It feels very exciting to have a new challenge (or should that be obsession...?), I'm really looking forward to exploring these waters over the spring and summer and seeing what's there :)

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And those who were seen dancing were thought to be insane by those who could not hear the music

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They certainly are amazing fish.

Stephen

 

Species Caught 2014

Zander, Pike, Bream, Roach, Tench, Perch, Rudd, Common Carp, Mirror Carp, Eel, Grayling, Brown Trout, Rainbow Trout

Species Caught 2013

Pike, Zander, Bream, Roach, Eel, Tench, Rudd, Perch, Common Carp, Koi Carp, Brown Goldfish, Grayling, Brown Trout, Chub, Roosterfish, Dorado, Black Grouper, Barracuda, Mangrove Snapper, Mutton Snapper, Jack Crevalle, Tarpon, Red Snapper

Species Caught 2012
Zander, Pike, Perch, Chub, Ruff, Gudgeon, Dace, Minnow, Wels Catfish, Common Carp, Mirror Carp, Ghost Carp, Roach, Bream, Eel, Rudd, Tench, Arapaima, Mekong Catfish, Sawai Catfish, Marbled Tiger Catfish, Amazon Redtail Catfish, Thai Redtail Catfish, Batrachian Walking Catfish, Siamese Carp, Rohu, Julliens Golden Prize Carp, Giant Gourami, Java Barb, Red Tailed Tin Foil Barb, Nile Tilapia, Black Pacu, Red Bellied Pacu, Alligator Gar
Species Caught 2011
Zander, Tench, Bream, Chub, Barbel, Roach, Rudd, Grayling, Brown Trout, Salmon Parr, Minnow, Pike, Eel, Common Carp, Mirror Carp, Ghost Carp, Koi Carp, Crucian Carp, F1 Carp, Blue Orfe, Ide, Goldfish, Brown Goldfish, Comet Goldfish, Golden Tench, Golden Rudd, Perch, Gudgeon, Ruff, Bleak, Dace, Sergeant Major, French Grunt, Yellow Tail Snapper, Tom Tate Grunt, Clown Wrasse, Slippery Dick Wrasse, Doctor Fish, Graysby, Dusky Squirrel Fish, Longspine Squirrel Fish, Stripped Croaker, Leather Jack, Emerald Parrot Fish, Red Tail Parrot Fish, White Grunt, Bone Fish
Species Caught 2010
Zander, Pike, Perch, Eel, Tench, Bream, Roach, Rudd, Mirror Carp, Common Carp, Crucian Carp, Siamese Carp, Asian Redtail Catfish, Sawai Catfish, Rohu, Amazon Redtail Catfish, Pacu, Long Tom, Moon Wrasse, Sergeant Major, Green Damsel, Tomtate Grunt, Sea Chub, Yellowtail Surgeon, Black Damsel, Blue Dot Grouper, Checkered Sea Perch, Java Rabbitfish, One Spot Snapper, Snubnose Rudderfish
Species Caught 2009
Barramundi, Spotted Sorubim Catfish, Wallago Leeri Catfish, Wallago Attu Catfish, Amazon Redtail Catfish, Mrigul, Siamese Carp, Java Barb, Tarpon, Wahoo, Barracuda, Skipjack Tuna, Bonito, Yellow Eye Rockfish, Red Snapper, Mangrove Snapper, Black Fin Snapper, Dog Snapper, Yellow Tail Snapper, Marble Grouper, Black Fin Tuna, Spanish Mackerel, Mutton Snapper, Redhind Grouper, Saddle Grouper, Schoolmaster, Coral Trout, Bar Jack, Pike, Zander, Perch, Tench, Bream, Roach, Rudd, Common Carp, Golden Tench, Wels Catfish
Species Caught 2008
Dorado, Wahoo, Barracuda, Bonito, Black Fin Tuna, Long Tom, Sergeant Major, Red Snapper, Black Damsel, Queen Trigga Fish, Red Grouper, Redhind Grouper, Rainbow Wrasse, Grey Trigger Fish, Ehrenbergs Snapper, Malabar Grouper, Lunar Fusiler, Two Tone Wrasse, Starry Dragonet, Convict Surgeonfish, Moonbeam Dwarf Angelfish,Bridled Monocle Bream, Redlined Triggerfish, Cero Mackeral, Rainbow Runner
Species Caught 2007
Arapaima, Alligator Gar, Mekong Catfish, Spotted Sorubim Catfish, Pacu, Siamese Carp, Barracuda, Black Fin Tuna, Queen Trigger Fish, Red Snapper, Yellow Tail Snapper, Honeycomb Grouper, Red Grouper, Schoolmaster, Cubera Snapper, Black Grouper, Albacore, Ballyhoo, Coney, Yellowfin Goatfish, Lattice Spinecheek

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Corkers!

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Wingham Specimen Coarse & Carp Syndicates www.winghamfisheries.co.uk Beautiful, peaceful, little fished gravel pit syndicates in Kent with very big fish. 2017 Forum Fish-In Sat May 6 to Mon May 8. Articles http://www.anglersnet.co.uk/steveburke.htm Index of all my articles on Angler's Net

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Good luck. A quick way to tell a true crucian is to look under its chin at the lower jaw. The lower jaw has a steep upward slope and a stubborn expression, like a child that refuses to open its mouth. By contrast goldfish have a more pointed snout.

 

Never seen this chin characteristic mentioned in print, but any fish showing this trait will check out with a lateral line count of 32 or more (as does yours)

 

If you look for old neglected farm ponds, unknown to local angling clubs and just a tiny blue dot on the OS map, and preferably in a wood or copse far from the beaten track, you are more likely to find true crucians, but unfortunately less likely to find big ones.

 

 

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Hey Steve, you know that marshy little pond at Wingham that isn't currently part of the fishery? ;)

 

It flooded into the Carp Lake this winter. :(

Wingham Specimen Coarse & Carp Syndicates www.winghamfisheries.co.uk Beautiful, peaceful, little fished gravel pit syndicates in Kent with very big fish. 2017 Forum Fish-In Sat May 6 to Mon May 8. Articles http://www.anglersnet.co.uk/steveburke.htm Index of all my articles on Angler's Net

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Hmm, maybe not so self contained then. :(

 

I do hope that AT project manages to set up some new refuge populations for wild type crucians.

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Well done mate. They're really smart and well done on the PB

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