🎣 Carp (Common Carp / “Karper”) Profile
Title: Common Carp – Species Profile
Slug: /common-carp-karp
🧾 Basic Info:
Common Name: Common Carp
Scientific Name: Cyprinus carpio
Also Known As: Karp
Family: Cyprinidae
📍 Where to Find It:
Found in many South African dams and slow-moving rivers
Common locations: Witbank Dam, Vaal Dam, Roodeplaat, Rietvlei
🎯 Best Fishing Methods:
Papgooi with mieliebom and floaties
Hair rigs with boilies for specimen fishing
Pre-baiting areas improves chances
🕓 Best Time of Year:
Spring to autumn (Sept–May)
Active during warm, stable weather — especially mornings and evenings
🎣 Recommended Tackle:
Medium to heavy carp rods, baitrunner reels, bite alarms
Ground bait like mieliebom, tiger nuts, or sweetcorn mixtures
⚠️ Regulations:
No size or bag limits in most areas
Practiced catch-and-release by most specimen anglers
📚 Fun Fact:
Carp can live over 20 years and grow over 20kg in SA waters — especially in the Vaal.