Crucian or Not?

[GrahamM]

Okay, you've read what Phil says, and what I think. What do you reckon - crucian or cross?

 

[Kim Mathiasen]

I think it's "thingy"...looks a lot like the hybrids I've caught. Strong fish...

 

[Dave Slater]

I have caught fish like this from a local stillwater to 6lb 10oz. I was quite excited when I caught the first one at 6lb 10oz, particularly as I thought it was a crucian and was caught on the same day as a chub of 7lb 2oz, which was a persobnal best at the time. The photos were inspected by expert anglers including Fred Sykes and the concensus of opinion was that it was a crucian/common hybrid.

 

[DAVE COOPER]

Working on your theory that if it 'looks like a duck etc' my first reaction was 'that's got a bit of common in it.....'

Hence my view is it's a crucian/common cross.

 

[Ron Troversial Clay]

It's certainly not a Crucian. The dorsal fin is concave like a common carp.

Crucian/common hybrid I think.

 

[Peter Jacobs]

I would agree with Ron, and others, that the fish is indeed a Crucian Hybrid.

However, at 4lbs 11ozs it is a magnificent "specimen" fish without a doubt.

I have often wondered does a "specimen" have to be from only those fish that appear on the Record Fish Listing?

 

[goff dyer]

Who cares, Phil if i had caught it i would have been over the moon its a cracking fish.

 

[Peter Jacobs]

That is my point too Goff, a cracking fish, obviously a specimen for the venue regardless of species.

 

[Terry Comerford]

It does have a common look to it, but difficult to say as its not close up.
Nice fish though.

 

[Ron Troversial Clay]

There are two other aspects opf a true Crucian that are worthy on note.

A true Crucian appears to have a split lateral line. It does not join in the middle of it's body as it were.

Also, when you hold a crucian it has a tendency to "curl".

These are characteristics of the species I was taught many years ago.

 

[Dave Slater]

Phil,
If the fish is the same as the ones I have caught in a local lake it must have fought very well. The ones in my water go mental and are probably the hardest fighting fish I have encountered. They look very nice as well. I t doesn't matter if they are hybrids as long as you enjoy catching them. I certainly do.

 

[Andy Nellist]

The one thing you can say with certainty is that it is not a Crucian.

If I had to guess i'd go for F1 Crucian x Common.

 

[Ron Troversial Clay]

I agree Dave. Next summer I mean to do a lot more fishing for Crucians, or their "cousins".

There is a lake not far from me that has them up to 5lbs. I got one (a true Crucian) of 21/2 lbs this last summer.

 

[Phil Hackett]

Agree with Andy Nellist it an F1 Crucian common carp hybrid.
Just a point on hybrids, the dominant species always comes first. A Roach X Bream hybrid would look like a roach, generally have the anal fin of a bream and probably the lazy all black eye that bream have.

I am surprised that Phil Smith thought this was Crucian given that he sits on BRFC. Or is he trying to wind us up?

 

[Warren 'Hatrick' (Wol) Gaunt]

Errrrrrr i dont think its the same Phil Smith. If it was then he aint said owt about it to me over the last few weeks and we speak once or twice a week on the phone if we haven't been out fishing.

 

[GrahamM]

The captor is NOT Phil Smith of the record fish committee. Without doubt THE Phil Smith would have recognised that particular fish as a hybrid.

 

[Dave Slater]

Good job it is a hybrid or THE Phil Smith would already have his rod rests in the holes left by the other Phil Smith's rod rests !!

 

[Gary Knowles]

Deffo a crucian/common hybrid, and not that rare I might add.

There are loads of them in Cheshire. I've caught plenty of them in reasonable quantities.

 

[Andy Nellist]

Where the sex of the parents is known it is usual to put the maternal sex first and the paternal second.

It has been speculated maternal/paternal influence may affect the appearnance e.g. a Roach (f) x Bream (m) may appear more roach like than a Bream (f) x Roach (m) but nobody has yet studied the mitochondrial DNA of adult wild cyprinid hybrids in the UK. i.e. no one knows.

 

[Phil Hackett]

apologies for jumping on the wrong Phil Smith