silver carp
Hypophthalmichthys molitrix · Xenocyprididae · forage fish
Exotic carp introduced to Brazil and other Latin American countries, used in aquaculture and to control algae. It is considered a potential pest.
Also called: carpa-prateada, carpa plateada, silver carp
- maximum
- 120 cm
- record/max.
- 50.0 kg
- depth
- 0–20 m
the right time
to be on the water
Choose the place and the species. The index, from 0 to 100, combines weather, sun, moon and tide with each fish's habits. Up to 28 days, with each day's confidence.
Reading the weather across 3 global models and 31 simulations…
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hour by hour
slide your finger or mouse over the chart to see each hoursee hour-by-hour table
why this index at —?
choose the day
Each card shows the day's index (0 to 100) and, below it, a strip with the index for each hour, from 0h to 23h. from poor to excellent.
the fishing month at a glance
what's the best window for the crew?
Choose how many fishing days. We compare each stretch by its average index, discount days with a warning or closed season, and show the 3 best.
trend for the coming weeks
Line: the middle value of 31 simulations of the American GEFS model. Band: where 8 out of 10 fall. Narrow, firm trend; wide, high uncertainty.
everything about the silver carp
who is the silver carp
Fish of the family Xenocyprididae, the carps, with a spindle-shaped body. It reaches 120 cm and can weigh up to 50 kg. It is native to Asia, to the rivers of eastern China, from the Amur to the Xi Jiang. It was introduced to Brazil and other Latin American countries for aquaculture and algae control. It escapes from fish farms and is found in large rivers, lakes and reservoirs. Adults eat phytoplankton, and juveniles eat zooplankton. In aquaculture it is produced on a large scale and its flesh is eaten fresh. It has commercial use in fishing and aquaculture.
Essential profile. Identification, where it occurs and rules, with data from FishBase and the cited regulations. Season, time of day, technique and bait are added once we have a good source for the silver carp; in the meantime, see the similar species.
fun facts
- It was also introduced to clear algae from reservoirs, a role often valued more than its worth as food.
- During the spawning season it swims up rivers on long migrations and can jump obstacles up to 1 m high.
identification
Spindle-shaped carp, with a grey-green back and a paler belly, without barbels. It has a sharp keel with no scales running from the chest to the base of the anal fin. The bighead carp, with which it is confused, has a shorter keel and a less uniform color, which is the main difference between the two.
where found
Native to Asia, it was introduced to several Latin American countries, including Argentina, Brazil, Cuba, Mexico and Peru. In Brazil it is exotic and has already been recorded in natural environments of the Paraná and São Francisco basins and of the Patos and Mirim lagoons.
Habitat: Large rivers, lakes and reservoirs of fresh water, near the surface and down to 20 m deep.
introduced in
rules for the silver carp
Summary of the regulations we found, with the source for each. Rules change; before keeping or transporting fish, check with the state environmental agency.
Conservation: Not on the Brazilian national list (Ministerial Ordinance GM/MMA No. 1.667/2026).
We found no species-specific rule beyond the region's general rules.
catch and release
catch and release Releasing the fish alive, quickly and with a wet hand. During a closed season it isn't always allowed: what the regulation says applies.
It has no teeth or venom, but it is an exotic species and is considered a potential pest. Do not release the live fish into other waters, so as not to spread the species.
in the kitchen
It is eaten fresh, and the species is widely farmed in aquaculture.
how much it weighs without taking it out of the water
Length-weight relationship W = a·Lb (a = 0.00891, b = 3.1; FishBase (relação peso-comprimento bayesiana, estimativa da própria espécie)). It's an average: a fat or lean fish can vary by 10% to 20%.
estimated weight
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sources and references
Essential profile: size, length-weight, depth, countries and conservation come from FishBase and the cited regulations, and the texts were written from those sources. Season, time of day, sensitivities, technique and baits and lures are not included yet, because we did not find a good source for this species.
- scientific FishBase: Hypophthalmichthys molitrix (ficha da espécie)Size, length-weight, depth, habitat, distribution, biology, and IUCN status. Page checked on Oct 13, 2026.
- scientific FishBase: nomes populares de Hypophthalmichthys molitrixNames by country and language.
- official Portaria GM/MMA nº 1.667, de 27 de abril de 2026: Lista Nacional Oficial de Espécies da Fauna Ameaçadas de Extinção (peixes e invertebrados aquáticos)The species is not on the list. Checked in the DOU of April 28, 2026.
similar species
where each number comes from
The weather comes from three independent global models, cross-checked hour by hour: when they agree, confidence goes up; when they diverge, the band between them shows on the chart. Beyond 16 days, we use the GEFS ensemble of 31 simulations: if 20 of the 31 predict rain, the chance of rain is 65%. Sun and moon are calculated astronomically, with no uncertainty.
The index adds up, weighted for each species: time of day (species curve anchored to real sunrise and sunset), moon (transits, rise and set, phase), pressure (3 h trend and 24 h swing), water temperature (in rivers, estimated from air temperature; at sea, estimated by an ocean model), wind, rain, clouds, tide and the month in the species' cycle.
sources for this lookup
how accurate the forecast is
Accuracy measured in the reference project (4 regions, 93 days, forecast vs. observed): maximum temperature is off by 0.6 °C on average the next day and 1.7 °C at 7 days; rain of 5 mm or more is detected 76% of the time the next day and 57% at 7 days. Detection isn't everything: the false alarm rate isn't published here yet, and 93 days in 4 regions is still a small sample. We now also measure every day, at the app's destinations: