Freshwater

Topmouth culter (Chinese predatory carp)

Culter de boca alta (carpa depredadora china)

Culter alburnus

Freshwater

At a glance

Typical size

1–5 lb.

Depth

Surface to 30 ft.

Best time

Dawn and dusk, and at night.

Found in

2 areas

Spot it, size it up and learn its habits.

Identification: A long, thin, bright silver fish with a sharply upturned mouth, a straight back, small scales and a deeply forked tail. A predatory carp, called qiaozui in China.
Typical size: 1–5 lb.
Maximum size: Reported to about 3 ft.
Diet: Small fish such as sharpbelly and shrimp, attacked at the surface.
Behavior: Hunts in schools near the surface, slashing through bait at dawn and dusk.

Where, when and how deep to look.

Where to find it: Found from China, Hong Kong & Taiwan and Russia, Mongolia & Kazakhstan. Big lakes and slow rivers of China (Qiandao Lake, Taihu, Poyang), Taiwan's reservoirs and the Amur basin.
Habitat: Big lakes and slow rivers of China (Qiandao Lake, Taihu, Poyang), Taiwan's reservoirs and the Amur basin.
Depth: Surface to 30 ft.
Fishing depth: Surface to 10 ft.
Best season: Spring to autumn.
Best time: Dawn and dusk, and at night.
Best tides: No tide in fresh water; rising or steady water levels after rain are usually best.
Best weather / conditions: Stable weather with clean water; a few days of steady conditions beat a front coming through.

What to tie on and what to throw.

Best bait: Small live fish and shrimp.
Best artificial lures: Small minnows, spoons, spinners and topwater pencils.
Tackle setup: 7 ft light spinning rod.
Hook size: Size 4–1 hooks.
Line: 6–10 lb braid.
Leader: 10–15 lb fluorocarbon.

The rod, reel, line and lures BigJoe would use.

Also at Bass Pro Shops: Rod Reel Line Lures Plastics Hooks Box

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Step by step, from first cast to landing.

Go where it lives: Big lakes and slow rivers of China (Qiandao Lake, Taihu, Poyang), Taiwan's reservoirs and the Amur basin.
Rig up: 7 ft light spinning rod. 10–15 lb fluorocarbon.
Pick your bait: Small live fish and shrimp. Lures: Small minnows, spoons, spinners and topwater pencils.
Fish it: Look for surface boils at dawn and cast small minnows or pencils into them; retrieve fast.
Time it: Dawn and dusk, and at night. No tide in fresh water; rising or steady water levels after rain are usually best.

Fishing techniques: Look for surface boils at dawn and cast small minnows or pencils into them; retrieve fast.
BigJoe's tip: Culter feed right on top: a pencil bait twitched fast across the surface is deadly at first light.
Catch and release: Catch and release: wet your hands, keep the fish in the water when you can, and release it quickly. Use circle hooks and a dehooker.

Is it good to eat, and how to prepare it.

Edibility: Good eating when fresh.
Cleaning: Bleed and ice it right away. Fillet, then remove the skin and any dark bloodline.
Cooking suggestions: Good, delicate meat, often steamed in China, but bony.

Safety, rules and taking care of the fishery.

Safety warnings: Harmless; handle gently.
Regulations: China has seasonal fishing bans on the Yangtze and many lakes (the Yangtze has a 10-year commercial fishing ban that began in 2020, with strict rules for anglers). Check local rules. Rules differ by country: many lakes, reservoirs and fishing parks sell day permits, national parks and marine sanctuaries restrict or ban fishing, and some species are protected. Fish with licensed operators and check local rules.
Conservation: Keep only what you'll eat and release the big breeders; wet your hands, support the fish's belly and get it back in the water fast.

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Sources & photo credits