A pike-like fish with a sharp nose. The largest fish in the world. River fish without bones

For millions of years, our planet has been inhabited by a large variety of fish. Their habitat became numerous lakes, rivers, seas and oceans. Since ancient times, both river and sea inhabitants of the underwater kingdom have served as a source of food for people, rich in a huge amount of useful substances, such as various amino acids, protein and various vitamins. Fish farming products are widely used in the production of medicines and nutritional fertilizers for agriculture, as well as raw materials in light industry.

Features of river inhabitants

We all know that fishing on rivers is an exciting and varied activity. Therefore, any fisherman, before starting to equip fishing gear, must accurately answer the question of what kind of fish are found in the river. And, of course, every amateur fisherman should know the physiological characteristics of the object of hunting:

Depending on the nature of the food taken, river fish can be classified as:

• predatory;
• herbivores;
• omnivores.

River predators

Predatory individuals feed on other fish, some can eat animals or birds. Largemouth species swallow so much prey at one time that it is enough for several days of active life, but smallmouth fish need to hunt constantly, since their prey is small.

The most common predatory river fish in Russian waters. The maximum size of pike reaches up to 1.5 m with a weight of up to 30-35 kg, but specimens are known weighing up to 60 kg and longer than human height. The average life expectancy is up to 25 years, although there are individuals with a maximum age of 35 years.

The fish is very strong, tireless and agile thanks to its slippery cylindrical body. It is shaped like an underwater torpedo with a long, flattened head and a huge mouth filled with many sharp teeth.

Pike is so predatory that sometimes it even attacks its own relatives. True, it prefers carp fish for food: crucian carp, bleak, roach, rudd. But he treats spiny species (perch, ruff) with great caution; even if he catches such a fish, he does not immediately swallow it, but holds it in his mouth until it stops moving. During the hunt, it misses very rarely, but if attempts are unsuccessful, it returns to ambush and awaits other prey.

The spotted body color of the pike allows it to camouflage perfectly among the vegetation of the reservoir. In rivers it lives in places that are not very deep, with weak currents and grassy banks.

Pike meat contains little fat and is therefore considered dietary. It contains a lot of protein, which is easily absorbed by the human body.

spiny perch

This predatory fish, like pike, is widespread in the waters of Russia and almost all European countries. It has a laterally compressed body, which has a peculiar hump with dark stripes. The tail fin and eyes are highlighted with an orange tint. The color of the perch depends entirely on the transparency of the water. Individuals living in a dark environment with a muddy bottom have a more saturated color than fish living in light water.

The fish is quite large in size; there is evidence that perch can reach a weight of up to five kilograms and a length of up to half a meter. The average life expectancy is about 17 years.

In terms of extraordinary gluttony and predatory greed, it is not inferior to the pike. Having swallowed one fish, it can immediately continue hunting for another. There are cases when a caught perch had several fry in its stomach. It feeds on any fish of suitable size, and is active both in summer and winter.

Prefers to stay at depth, but not at the very bottom. During a hunt, it easily lunges at prey located in the upper layers of the reservoir.

The largest predator is catfish

This is the largest fish living in rivers. Its body length can reach five meters, and its weight can be over 300 kg. According to scientists, such specimens are 80-100 years old. In most cases, the color is brown with a brownish-green tint, and the belly is white. The color change can be almost light yellow depending on where it lives.

Catfish are considered an active nocturnal predator, which during the day prefers to lie down in snags or holes.

The diet of this large predator is very varied. Easily eats frogs, shellfish or large fish. Sometimes geese, ducks, water rats and other animals and birds can end up in the mouth of a catfish.

The meat of this inhabitant of the river depths contains some bones and fat. It is very nutritious and beneficial for the human body.

A predator reaching a length of up to one meter and a weight of up to 10 kg. Pike perch can be found in the clear water of large rivers and lakes. Life expectancy is up to 15 years. It is a relative of the perch and has the same vertical stripes on both sides.

An adult tries to stay near stones at depth or in holes, but young animals, on the contrary, prefer shallow sections of rivers. At the beginning of life, the fry primarily feed on zooplankton, insect larvae and small fish of other fish.

Pike perch actively hunts for prey, while trying to avoid areas with thickets where it itself can become food for pike. However, his location is very unstable. Where pike perch was caught well the day before, you may not find it the next day.

Among freshwater fish, burbot is the only representative of the cod family. It is sharply distinguished from other fish by its unique body shape. The body is strongly elongated and compressed on the sides, especially in the tail. The head is flattened, similar to a catfish. The back is grayish-green in color and has dark stripes and spots, but the belly is whitish.

Burbot is an insatiable and extremely greedy predator whose diet includes insect larvae, frogs, mollusks and small fish. Sometimes, when an adult is opened, a large number of small perches, minnows or ruffs are found in the stomach. Despite its sluggish and lazy appearance, it swims deftly and quickly. At the same time, it is especially active in winter, when other fish are more sleepy and motionless.

Burbot can reach a length of up to one meter and a weight of up to five kilograms, although there are also specimens weighing up to 24 kg. Life expectancy is quite high - up to 22 years.

There are also smaller predatory fish, such as:

1. Bersh is very similar to pike perch, however, it reaches a size of up to 50 cm.
2. Chop - found less frequently, in the Danube or Dnieper rivers.
3. Ruff is a widespread fish, often called thorn by fishermen, because it has sharp, spiny fins.

Herbivorous fish

This type includes fish that spend most of their time searching for plant food and various river plankton. Various types of algae grow in reservoirs and rivers, especially in warm summers, which are an excellent haven for various mollusks and crustaceans. They are the perfect treat for herbivorous fish.

Common fish - crucian carp

It is the most common fish in almost all reservoirs and rivers of Russia. The fish is quite unpretentious; it prefers shallow sections of the river, warmed by the rays of the sun and overgrown with vegetation of all kinds. Weakly responds to lack of oxygen and water quality in its habitat. In the winter season, crucian carp is capable of freezing into ice and not even dying.

It belongs to the family of carp fish, in appearance it is very similar to carp, but does not have antennae. Weighs approximately 0.5 kg. It feeds mainly on zooplankton, various aquatic plants, worms and larvae.

There are silver and gold carp. It is most active in the warm season.

Carp and its species

It belongs to the family of carp fish and is the most desired prey for fishermen in central Russia. There are individuals of quite large size, weighing up to 10 kg. According to scientists, life expectancy can reach 100 years.

There are the following types of carp:

1. mirror;
2. scaly;
3. naked;
4. frame carp and others.

All these representatives differ from each other in the shape of the body, the type of scales and habits. It can feed on bread crumbs, undercooked potatoes or cake.

The fish is very strong, so experienced fishermen often fish for it, using reliable and powerful gear.

Main types of carp

Bream and its use in cooking

This schooling, inconspicuous fish often lives in places with calm currents and muddy bottoms. Life expectancy is up to 20 years, but bream growth is very slow. Only by the age of ten is he able to gain weight up to 4 kg.

It feeds mainly on crustaceans, mollusks, insect larvae, worms and algae. The coloring of bream is dominated by a dark silvery tint. Spawns at water temperatures of 13 degrees.

The meat of this fish is characterized by excellent taste. It is consumed boiled, salted, fried, dried or smoked.

Small representative - roach

This fish is found in almost all rivers and lakes. It leads a gregarious lifestyle and prefers to hide from predators in quiet sections of rivers overgrown with grass and algae.

In appearance it is very similar to the rudd. The color of the body depends on the composition of the water in its habitat. The fish is small in size (15-20 cm), but there were also specimens up to half a meter in length and weighing up to two kilograms.

Roach spawns at a temperature of plus ten degrees, and after this period it is particularly active. The best time to catch this fish is considered to be early morning or late evening.

Of course, within the framework of one article, it is very difficult to describe all representatives of the aquatic world. There are also a huge number of species of river fish:

1. The rudd is a beautiful fish that looks like a roach.
2. The silver bream is a distant relative of the bream, silver in color with reddish fins.
3. Carp is considered a freshwater fish, but is also found in the Caspian Sea basin.
4. Tench is a royal fish with excellent taste characteristics.
5. Chub is a freshwater fish that is found exclusively in rivers with fast currents.
6. Bleak is a ubiquitous fish, known to almost every angler.

Other types of river fish

Unfortunately, many river systems are negatively affected by the unfavorable environmental situation, which is caused by various emissions from industrial enterprises and factories. The inhabitants of many rivers and reservoirs become victims of this human attitude towards the environment.

Pike perch is a relative of perch, which lives only in clean water, provided with oxygen for its life and activity. There are no phosphates or other impurities in this fish. The height of pike perch is 35 cm. Its maximum weight is 20 kg.

Pike perch meat is light and lean, but very pleasant to the taste. It is saturated with phosphorus, chromium, sulfur, potassium, fluorine, cobalt, iodine and vitamin P. In terms of composition, this fish is quite healthy.

Bersh

Bersh also belongs to the perch family. Its height is 45 cm. The largest fish weight is 1.4 kg. This species lives in rivers that flow into the Black and Caspian seas.

The bersh feeds on not very large fish, mainly gudgeon. The meat is like pike perch, but a little softer.

How to catch more fish?

I have been active fishing for quite some time and have found many ways to improve the bite. But it was and remains the most effective.

It attracts fish in cold and warm water with the help of pheromones included in the composition and stimulates their appetite. Suitable for both summer and winter fishing.

Perch

Perch lives in rivers, lakes, and ponds that have only clean water. That is, we can say that this fish is not picky and is found almost everywhere where it is clean.

To catch perch, you need to use only certain thin gear. Thanks to this, catching it is quite interesting and entertaining.

Ruff

In appearance, the ruff looks like a monster. It has such spiny fins to protect itself from predatory fish like pike. This fish is found in ponds and rivers, but changes color depending on its habitat. Height is 13 cm and weight is approximately 400 g.

Such growth of the ruffe depends on the excess of crayfish, insects and larvae on which they feed. This type of fish is common in many European countries. It is found mainly in rivers, lakes, seashores and ponds.

Spawns from two days to several weeks. This fish does not like sunlight, so it can be found at a depth of at least two meters.

Chop

This fish is extremely rare in our area, so few people know about it. The fish belongs to the perch family. It has an elongated spindle-shaped body, decorated with a protruding snout.

This fish is small in size, that is, its length is less than 1 foot. The main place of residence of the chop is the Danube River with its adjacent tributaries.

The chop feeds on worms, mollusks, and small-sized fish. The caviar, which has a bright yellow color, has been spawning since the end of April.

Pike

Pike belongs to the pike family. It has become widespread in fresh water bodies of the Eurasian and North American continents. We can say that this fish is distributed almost all over the world only in water that is saturated with oxygen.

When the amount of oxygen decreases, it dies. Height is 1.5 m, weight ranges between 35 kg. The body and head of the pike have an elongated shape. It can spawn only at temperatures from three to six degrees. Pike is a predatory fish.

It feeds mainly on low-value fish. Lives everywhere. The meat contains little fat and is dietary. They live no more than 25 years. In cooking, this type of fish is used raw, boiled, fried and stewed.

Roach

Roach has become widespread in the Russian Federation.

It lives in rivers, ponds and lakes.

The color of a fish depends on the composition of the water in which it lives.

Looks like a rudd.

Roach feeds mainly on algae, fry of various small fish and various midge larvae.

With the onset of winter, they go to spend the winter.

It begins to spawn later than pike, somewhere right at the end of spring, and before spawning it becomes covered with small white spots.

Roach caviar is very soft, transparent and has a green tint.

Bream

Bream is a dull fish, but has a delicious taste. Prefers to live in calm water with slow currents.

Their lifespan is 20 years, however they grow slowly. For example, a bream that lives 10 years weighs only three or four kilograms.

The fish has a silvery-dark color. Life expectancy is seven to eight years. The length varies within 41 cm, and the weight reaches 800 g. It begins to spawn in the spring.

It feeds on aquatic plankton, invertebrate larvae and crayfish mollusks. It lives mainly in the Black and Caspian Seas. In cooking it is used in different forms: fried, boiled, salted, smoked and dried.

Gustera

The silver bream is a sedentary fish.

The color is bluish-gray. The lifespan of fish is no more than 15 years.

The length is 35 cm and the weight is 1.2 kg. These fish do not grow quickly. They live in calm waters.

Spring and autumn for the silver bream are the period of formation of numerous flocks and dense aggregations.

This is where the name of the fish comes from.

It feeds mainly on insect larvae and small fish mollusks.

The silver bream usually spawns at night, at the end of May or at the beginning of June at a water temperature of 15 to 17 ° C with a duration of 1 to 1.5 months.

The fish became widespread in European countries. The meat has a lot of bones and is tasteless.

Carp

Carp has a dark yellow-golden color. The lifespan of a fish is 30 years, but it stops growing at 7 or 8 years. Weight is from 1 to 3 kg, and height is 100 cm.

Carp is a freshwater fish, but is also found in the Caspian Sea. In the summer it feeds on young shoots of reeds and other aquatic plants, as well as young eggs of spawning fish, and in the fall it begins to eat various small insects and invertebrates.

Carp

Carp belongs to the carp family. Has a mustache. The fish feed on undercooked potatoes, bread crumbs and cake. In winter, carp hibernate. They are very insatiable and gluttonous.

Life expectancy is about 100 years. The fish is yellow-green and brown in color. Lives in rivers, reservoirs, rates, lakes that have a bottom filled with silt.

Fish spawns at water temperatures from 18 to 20 degrees in the morning. Weight is about 9 kg. In China it is considered a food fish, and in Japan it is considered a decorative food.

crucian carp

Crucian carp is the most famous fish among people.

Lives in almost all reservoirs and ponds in Russia.

It belongs to the carp family. It resembles a carp, but does not have a mustache.

This fish is hardy and unpretentious to water quality. They react little to a lack of oxygen.

In winter, fish can freeze into ice and not die if the internal liquid does not freeze.

Weighs 0.5 kg.

Spawns at a temperature of at least 14 degrees.

Tench

It lives in rivers and reservoirs overgrown with plants and covered with a carpet of duckweed.

She is considered a strong fish. It is good to catch tench starting in August. In terms of taste, the fish is no worse than carp and pike perch. It also makes good fish soup.

Chub

The chub is a freshwater fish. Belongs to the carp family. Its length is 80 cm and weighs about 8 kg. It uses aerial insects, young crayfish, fish and frogs as food.

Widespread in European countries and Asia Minor. Spawns at water temperatures from 12 to 17 °C. Likes to live in areas with strong currents.

Ide

Ide is widespread in all rivers and reservoirs of European countries. Prefers slow currents and deep places. Does not hibernate. Quite a hardy fish. Length ranges from 35 to 63 cm, weight ranges from 2 to 2.8 kg.

Life expectancy reaches 20 years. Feeds on animal and plant foods. Ide spawns in the spring at temperatures from 2 to 13 degrees.

Asp

Asp is the most common species of the carp family.

It has a dark bluish-gray color.

The height of the fish is 120 cm, and the weight ranges between 12 kg.

This species lives in the Black and Caspian Seas.

Likes to swim in fast-moving waters; stagnant places are avoided.

Chekhon

It has a silvery, grayish and yellowish color. The length of the fish is 60 cm and the weight is 2 kg. Life expectancy is 9 years. The fish grows quite quickly.

Lives in rivers, lakes, reservoirs, the sea. Young fish first eat phytoplankton and zooplankton, and in late summer feed on insect larvae. Lives in the Baltic Sea.

Rudd

In appearance, the rudd is similar to a roach, but much more attractive. He is 51 cm tall and weighs 2.1 kg. Life expectancy ranges from 19 years.

Found in rivers that flow into the Caspian, Azov, Black and Aral seas. Fish eat animal and plant microorganisms. They especially love shellfish caviar.

Meat contains many useful minerals such as phosphorus, chromium, vitamin P, proteins and fats.

Podust

Podust has a long body. The lifespan of fish is 10 years. The length reaches 40 cm and the weight is 1.6 kg. Loves fast-flowing rivers.

It feeds on microscopic algae that lie at the bottom of rivers. Spawns in April at temperatures from 6 to 8 degrees. Distributed throughout Europe.

Bleak

Bleak is a fish that is known to every person who has picked up a fishing rod at least once. It belongs to the carp family. The size of the fish ranges from 12 to 15 cm, and the weight reaches about one hundred grams.

It lives in rivers that flow into the Black, Baltic and Azov seas.

Bystryanka

Bystryanka is similar to ordinary bleak. This is a rather small fish and its maximum size was no more than 10 cm. It has a brownish-green color. Weighs about 2 g. Lives about 6 years.

It grows very slowly. It takes zooplankton and algae as food.

Gudgeon

The gudgeon belongs to the carp family.

The body of the fish is spindle-shaped.

The size is 15-22 cm.

It is found in reservoirs.

Spawns in spring.

Accepts larvae and small invertebrates as food

white cupid

The fish "Great Cupid" belongs to the carp family. It accepts as food only aquatic plants that have high growth rates. The fish is 1.2 m tall and weighs 32 kg. This type of fish is distributed throughout the world.

Silver carp

Silver carp feed on microscopic algae in huge sizes. This is an industrial fish that is easy to acclimatize. She weighs 8 kg. Belongs to the carp family. The fish has teeth that are designed to flatten algae.

Silver carp is widespread in the Republic of China and the Central Asian region. The length of the fish reaches 1 m, and the weight is 25 kg. It is an industrial fish. Silver carp love warm water. In rivers, places with fast currents are selected. They spawn in early spring.

Som

Catfish is a large freshwater scaleless fish of the catfish family. Its length reaches 5 m, and its weight is 400 kg. The color is brown. Lives in the Russian Federation and other European countries. Applies to inactive fish.

Channel catfish

Channel catfish are fish belonging to the catfish family. It contains 37 species of fish that live in North America. The fish has a very slender, scaleless body and huge mustache, which is of particular interest.

Fish spawn at a temperature of 28 degrees. Channel catfish are a heat-loving fish, but they can overwinter under ice.

Acne

Eel is a freshwater fish that belongs to the family of river eels. This fish is predatory. Lives in the Baltic, Azov, Black and Barents seas. It looks like a snake.

It has an elongated cylindrical body and a small head, which is flattened in front. This fish is found in waters with clay bottoms. The eel feeds on a variety of animals that live in mud, crayfish, worms, larvae, and snails.

The length is 47 cm, and the weight can reach 8 kg.

Snakehead

Snakehead fish live in swampy areas. Looks like a snake

Burbot

Burbot belongs to the order of cod-like fish.

It has a long, small and round body.

The color is brown and gray.

But it can change depending on the environment.

This fish spawns in the cold season.

Prefers cold and clean waters.

Burbot is a predator.

Hunts mainly at night.

Feeds on invertebrates and zooplankton. Burbot is an industrial fish.

Loach

The loach fish is one of a small group of fish characterized by a long body that is covered with very small, smooth scales.

In appearance, the loach resembles an eel or a snake. The fish has a long, cylindrical body. The length of this fish is 30 cm.

This species is widespread throughout Europe. The fish prefers calm water. It likes to be mostly at the bottom, and comes to the surface only during a thunderstorm or during rains.

Char

Red char fish is a relative of the salmon breed. There are many types of this fish. A characteristic property of the loach is that it has the ability to change its color, which depends on the habitat and the number of years.

These fish have no scales. It is small in size. In cooking, char does not shrink in size when exposed to high temperatures.

Fish is rich in omega-3, that is, fatty acids that help the body perform protective functions to fight inflammation.

Hungarian lamprey

Lives mainly in the river. This fish is widespread in Transcarpathia in Ukraine. The Hungarian lamprey lives in shallow areas of rivers with a clay bottom.

Ukrainian lamprey

The Ukrainian lamprey feeds on various types of fish. Lives mainly in rivers. Distributed in the basins of Ukraine. Doesn't like to be deep underwater.

The body length is 25 cm, spawns at a water temperature of 8 degrees. After spawning, they live for another two years and die.

Sterlet

It has a dark gray-brown color.

Life expectancy is 27 years.

Length ranges from 1.25 m and weight up to 16 kg.

Lives in rivers.

In winter it goes into a sedentary state, goes deeper and does not feed on anything.

Distributed in the Black, Azov, Caspian, White, Barents and Kara seas.

It is a very valuable industrial fish.

Danube salmon

Danube salmon is a unique representative of the fish fauna of Ukraine. It lives in the Danube River basin and is not found anywhere else in the world. The fish belongs to the salmon family. Its length is about 1 meter.

Salmon color is gray. It begins to spawn in April. This fish is a voracious predator that feeds on small fish. The weight of the fish is 140 g, sizes range up to 15 cm.

The lifespan of Danube salmon is twenty years.

Brook trout

Brook trout belongs to the salmon family. It has a body length of 25 - 55 cm, and a weight of 0.2 - 2 kg or more. The color changes from dark brown to golden. This fish leads a sedentary lifestyle and does not like to migrate.

Trout feeds on crayfish and insect larvae. Trout receive the largest amount of food during a thunderstorm, when the wind blows a huge number of insect larvae into the water.

Umber

Umbra belongs to the Eudoschidae family. The body dimensions are 10 cm and the weight is approximately 30 g. The color is reddish-brown. It became widespread in the basin of the Danube and Dniester rivers.

If it hears danger, it burrows into the ground. Spawns in March or April. It eats fish larvae and small invertebrates.

European grayling

European grayling is one of the main industrial fish in the North of the Urals. Spawns in rivers at a temperature of 10 degrees. It is a very predatory fish. Likes to be in fast-flowing rivers.

Carp

Carp is a freshwater fish. Belongs to the carp family. The fish is dark in color. Its length is 60 centimeters. The carp is found in the Black, Azov and Caspian seas. Weight is about 5 kg.

River fish without bones

There are no bones in the following types of fish:

• in maritime language;
• in fish of the sturgeon family, which belong to the order Chordata.

Features of river fish

Water is a very dense substance, so the movement of fish in it is difficult. However, her body is adapted to such conditions.

Many fish, especially good swimmers, have a long torpedo or spindle shape. Such fish include salmon, podust, dace, chub, asp, sabrefish and herring. In calm water and with a slight current, fish with a flat body live. These include bream, rudd and crucian carp.

Among the river fish there are predators - pike, burbot, pike perch and catfish, which have a terrible mouth, huge jaws and strong teeth. Pike has the peculiarity of arching when swallowing food.

Fish that feed on small fish have small mouth openings. And those that feed from the bottom and dig the ground have a retractable mouth.

The skin color of many fish changes depending on their habitat. The speed of movement can be from ten to twenty meters per second.

How long has it been since you had a really BIG CATCH?

When was the last time you caught dozens of HUGE pike/carp/bream?

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05/11/2015 at 16:22 · Johnny · 33 450

Top 10 largest freshwater fish in the world

As soon as large fish were discovered in the oceans and seas, people began to fear them. Everyone was afraid of how the large freshwater creatures satisfied their hunger. After all, the larger a fish is, the more food it needs to feed itself. Therefore, in order to satisfy the food needs of their growing body, freshwater giants begin to eat their smaller relatives of different species. Typically, fish are classified according to characteristics such as genus, species, etc. We tried to do this based on their size. And here we invite you to familiarize yourself with the list of top 10 largest freshwater fish in the world.

10.

Taimen is a large fish from the salmon family, which is why it is often called “Russian salmon”. Its habitat is large rivers and lakes of Siberia, the Far East and Altai. The predator is capable of reaching 1 m or more in length and up to 55-60 kg in weight. This species is famous for its aggressive and merciless character. It is believed that taimen are capable of feeding on their own young. There are no food restrictions for this freshwater species. Russian salmon eats literally everything that comes its way.

9. Catfish

Catfish is a large freshwater scaleless fish. It lives in lakes and rivers of the European part of Russia, as well as in Europe and the Aral Sea basin. In good conditions, this species grows up to 5 m in length and at the same time gains weight up to 300-400 kg. Despite their large dimensions, the body of catfish is extremely flexible. This allows the active nocturnal predator to quickly obtain food. There is a misconception that this species feeds only on carrion or spoiled food. But that's not true. In fact, the main food for catfish are fry, small crustaceans and aquatic insects. And then, such a diet in freshwater fish is only at an early stage of development. Later it is replenished with live fish, various shellfish and other freshwater animals. There are even cases where the largest catfish have attacked small pets and waterfowl.

8.

You can find Nile perch in rivers, lakes and ponds of tropical Africa. It is especially common in the Ethiopian region. The body of the restive predator reaches a length of 1-2 meters and a weight of 200 kg or more. Nile perch eats crustaceans and various types of fish.

7.

Beluga belongs to the sturgeon family. This large fish lives in the depths of the Azov, Black and Caspian seas. Beluga can weigh a ton. Moreover, its body length will be more than 4 meters. Real long-livers belong to this species. The predator can live up to 100 years. In food, beluga prefers such types of fish as herring, gobies, sprat, etc. The fish also likes to eat shellfish, and sometimes hunts seal pups - whites.

6.

White sturgeon is the largest fish found in North America and ranks sixth in our ranking biggest fish in the world. It is distributed in fresh waters from the Aleutian Islands to central California. The predator grows up to 6 m in length and can gain a weight of 800 kg. This type of large fish is extremely aggressive. The white sturgeon mainly lives on the bottom. The predator feeds on mollusks, worms, and fish.

5.

The paddlefish is a huge freshwater fish that lives primarily in the Mississippi River. Representatives of this species can also be found in a number of large rivers that flow into the Gulf of Mexico. The predatory paddlefish does not pose a threat to humans. However, he loves to eat individuals of his own species or other fish. And yet most of those who belong to this species are herbivores. They prefer to eat only grasses and plants that usually grow in the depths of fresh water. The maximum recorded body length of a paddlefish is 221 cm. The largest fish can gain weight up to 90 kg. The average lifespan of a paddlefish is 55 years.

4.

Carp is a very large omnivorous fish. This species lives in almost all freshwater reservoirs, reservoirs, rivers and lakes. At the same time, carp prefers to inhabit quiet, stagnant waters with a hard clayey and slightly silted bottom. The largest individuals are believed to live in Thailand. Carp can reach a weight of more than one hundred kilograms. Typically, fish of this species live about 15-20 years. The diet of carp includes small fish. Predators also love to feast on the eggs of other fish, crustaceans, worms, and insect larvae. During hunting, it is typical for this species to kill a large number of small fish, because carp constantly needs food, since it is a stomachless fish.

3. Stingray

Third place on our list of ten the most largest freshwater fish in the world occupies the slope. Stingray is a beautiful predatory fish that can be found in tropical seas, in the waters of the Arctic and Antarctica, as well as in fresh water bodies. Fish of this species are most common in Asia. Stingrays inhabit both shallow and deep water. The most gigantic individuals reach up to 7-8 m in length. In this case, the stingray can gain weight up to 600 kg. Large fish feed preferably on echinoderms, crayfish, mollusks and small fish.

2. Giant Mekong catfish

The giant Mekong catfish lives in the fresh waters of Thailand. It is considered the largest representative of its species and is therefore often considered and studied separately from its relatives. The body width of the giant Mekong catfish sometimes reaches more than 2.5 m. The maximum weight of this fish species is 600 kg. The giant Mekong catfish feeds on live fish and small freshwater animals.

1. Alligator Gar

The alligator Gar (shell pike) is considered a real monster. This giant, exotic-looking fish has been living in the fresh waters of rivers in the southeastern United States for more than 100 million years. This species is named for its elongated snout and double row of fangs. Alligator Gar has the ability to spend time on land, but not more than 2 hours. The weight of the fish can reach 166 kg. Three meters is the usual length for individuals of this species. The Gar alligator is known for its ferocious and bloodthirsty nature. It feeds on smaller fish, but repeated cases of predator attacks on people have been recorded.

Catching the largest freshwater fish in the world: video

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In this article I would like to analyze the most coveted and significant fish of Siberia, fish of northern rivers, mountain taiga streams with cold water and rocky rifts, and lakes. Freshwater ichthyofauna of Siberia, as well as the Urals. Ichthyofauna of the entire taiga zone of Russia. I will not mention the fish that are abundant in the southern zone, and will focus only exclusively on the fish of the taiga, the fish of the north. Noble breeds of fish that are hunted by amateur fishermen in pursuit of a big trophy, tourists traveling through the taiga, and indigenous people of the north, for whom fishing is a way of obtaining food, and not sport, entertainment and the pursuit of a trophy.

Muksun

A valuable commercial fish from the whitefish and salmon family, it lives in the rivers of Siberia, in particular in the basins of the Ob, Irtysh, Lena, and Yenisei rivers. It is valued for its taste, as well as its nutritional value and the presence of essential substances. Well consumed lightly salted. It is enough for the muksun to stand in salting for about 9 hours, and only then it can be eaten. The meat is fatty and melts in your mouth. The calorie content of meat is about 90 kcal per 100 g. It is also widely used for preparing stroganina.

Fishing methods: In many regions of the country, fishing for muksun is prohibited, in others it is caught with nets, and muksun can also be caught with a fly, having a varied supply of bait with you.

Nelma

Valuable commercial fish of the whitefish family, reaching a weight of 50 kg. It lives in the rivers of Siberia, in the Arctic Ocean basin. It is considered one of the most delicious fish in Russia, and any fish dish made from it always turns out delicious. Just like muksun, nelma is good lightly salted and as planed meat. Is an endangered species.

Fishing methods: In all southern regions of Siberia, fishing for nelma is prohibited; it is caught industrially by artels in the northern part. Yes, and catching it with a spinning rod in the southern part is quite difficult, which cannot be said about the Ob or Yenisei delta, where nelma likes to live. The fish is very careful and shy. Nelma catches well on various spinners and spoons, most often ordinary ones, silver in color, matching the color of smelt and vendace fry.

Cheer

Chir (or Shchokur) is a representative of the whitefish genus. A valuable commercial fish, it lives in both fresh and semi-fresh water at the confluence of large Siberian rivers with the Arctic Ocean. Also available in Kamchatka. Chir serves as a bonus for commercial fishermen when catching nelma and muksun. Also lives in freshwater lakes.

Fishing methods: Just like muksun, whitefish are caught with nets, but, unlike whitefish, they bite quite well on a fishing rod and spinning rod. Various insects, larvae, meat of mollusks living along the seashore, and, of course, artificial baits are used as bait.

Omul

Valuable commercial fish of the whitefish genus. Small sizes, up to 6-8 kg. Baikal omul lives only in Lake Baikal and nearby rivers, where it spawns. In the river basin of the Arctic Ocean lives arctic omul . It is well used salted, smoked, and also as planed meat.

Fishing methods: omul is caught at any time of the year. Fishing is possible both from the shore and from a boat. Omul takes well on small, bright, stationary and moving baits, including spinning rods. Local residents use pieces of foam rubber, fresh meat or a piece of fish as bait. In the depths of winter, omul descends to depths of over 200 meters, and appropriate gear is needed to catch it.

Pyzhyan

Siberian whitefish lives in rivers of the European north and Siberia. Weight up to 5 kg. Length up to 80 cm. It has good taste and is an object of both amateur and commercial fishing. It has a characteristic transition from the head to the body. Pyzhyan feeds on mollusks, larvae, and various insects.

Fishing methods: Fishing takes place using cast seines and the installation of nets. Amateur fishing takes place using ordinary gear and bait. The best bait is chiromanidae, also caviar, mollusk, fly, bloodworm.

Tugun

A small commercial fish of the whitefish genus. In the Urals it is also known as Sosvinskaya herring . Fish of northern rivers live in the basins of the Ob and its tributaries (in particular, Northern Sovva, Pur, Taz, Nadym, etc.), on the Yenisei, Lena, etc. Length up to 100 cm, weight up to 100 g. Tugun meat tastes like fresh cucumber, the meat is tender and fatty. Tugun is smoked and consumed salted.

Fishing methods: Tugun is caught using seines; fishing with a rod or spinning rods is ineffective. Fishing most often occurs during the spring flood, when the fish go to fatten; they are also caught in the summer.

Lenok

A genus of fish in the salmon family. Lives in freshwater reservoirs and rivers. Most often in fast, cold mountain rivers, on rapids. It lives in Siberia and the Far East, as well as in China, Mongolia, and Western Korea. It is not found in the European part of Russia, west of the Ural Mountains. Predator, feeds on various insects, mollusks, worms, flies. It has other names: Russian - lenok, Turkic - uskuch, Evenki - maygun, Yakut - byyit and literary - Siberian trout. Is an endangered species.

Fishing methods: There is no commercial fishing; lenok is one of the popular fish for sport and recreational fishing. Fly fishing and spinning gear is used. Young lenok are caught with a fly, similar to grayling, larger specimens are caught with spoons, various spinners, wobblers, etc.

Grayling

A popular fish of northern rivers of the salmon family. It is an object of sport and amateur fishing and is valued for its excellent taste. There are Siberian, European and Mongolian grayling. Reaches a weight of 2.5-3 kg. It feeds on various larvae, mollusks, insects that have fallen into the water: midges, leafhoppers, grasshoppers, gadflies, etc.

Fishing methods: The most popular way to catch grayling is fly fishing. It can also be caught with a spinning rod and a regular fishing rod. Most often, grayling is caught using a fly. There are 4 places where grayling catches well: on riffles, rapids, immediately after the stones, standing facing upstream; near fallen trees; near large stones (standing at depth); on a riffle, to the side of the main stream. If fishing is done with spoons and spinners, then, as a rule, light baits are selected, but large grayling can also be taken with heavy ones.

Taimen

The fish of the salmon family is listed in the Red Book of Russia; in some reservoirs it is grown and fishing is prohibited. It is a coveted trophy for any taiga fisherman. It can reach a weight of 70-85 kg and a length of up to 2 meters. It lives in fresh, cold water and does not go to sea. It lives throughout the taiga belt. The further north his habitat is, the more comfortable he becomes.

Fishing methods: taimen is a predator and the fishing methods are the same as for other predators. In those rivers where there are many small fish, such as grayling and various types of whitefish, taimen also live. Fishing for taimen most often takes place under a special license or only for trophy photography, after which the fish are released. They are used with various spinners, spinners, wobblers and other spinning gear.

Sterlet

Valuable commercial fish of the sturgeon family. Body length reaches 130 cm, weight - up to 20 kg (in rare cases). Large specimens live mainly in northern rivers. It feeds on invertebrates and eats the eggs of other fish. It lives in the basins of many Siberian and European rivers in Russia, as well as in the seas. It is an object of fishing and spearfishing. Has excellent taste. An endangered species.

Fishing methods: is the target of poaching. Amateur fishermen catch sterlet under license. The most common tackle is a bottom bait with a bait in the form of a worm.

Burbot

Fish of the cod order, the only one that lives only in fresh water bodies. It is found almost throughout the taiga zone, most common in the rivers of the Arctic Ocean basin. As a rule, the weight of burbot does not exceed 1 kg.

Fishing methods: The best periods for catching burbot are winter and early spring. The best tackle is a donka, as well as a float rod. As bait you should use live bait, fry, frog, leech. It goes well at night, because at night it comes out of its burrows and lies in wait for prey near snags. It is also effective to place burbot perches at night in winter.

Pike

Not a species, but a whole family of pike. It lives both in Siberia and throughout Russia, almost everywhere. The most popular predator in our waters. The length of the pike reaches 2 meters, and the weight is 35 kg, but in rare cases.

Fishing methods: for live bait, for frog, for tadpole. When using a spinning rod, any bait works well, depending on the reservoir and the situation, be it all kinds of spinners, wobblers that imitate a wounded fry, vibrating tails, etc. This bloodthirsty predator is best caught in the spring, before its spawning, and in the fall - during the feeding season, with late August to mid-October (in the north - until September)

Dace

A small fish of the carp family. The dace lives in clean flowing rivers, both with sandy and pebble bottoms, as well as in lakes. It feeds on small insects, invertebrate plankton, and plant shoots.

Fishing methods: like all carp - a float rod with bait on a hook. Also bottom tackle and fly fishing. Bait: bloodworms, maggots, porridge, bread, worm.

Rainbow trout

Other name Mikizha . Fish of the salmon family. Small in size, length up to 55 cm, weight up to 1.5 kg. Lives in cold water, loves clean mountain rivers and lakes. Predator, feeds on fry of other fish, minnows, verkhovna, insects, etc.

Fishing methods: fly fishing or spinning. Small trout are caught on a fly, like Siberian grayling; larger individuals will bite on spoons and other spinning gear.

Minnow

The minnow is a small representative of the carp family. On the right photo lake minnow , on the left - river . The length of the fish is up to 15 cm, weight - up to 90-100 g. It feeds on mosquito larvae, flies, and small insects. The body is covered with small scales. Minnows are usually used as bait for larger fish, but can be eaten.

Fishing methods: minnows are caught during the day in calm, windless weather; at night the fish do not bite. Worms, bloodworms, and maggots are used as bait. Minnow fishing occurs in early autumn; later it goes into hibernation.

Chukuchan

A small freshwater fish of the whitefish family. Dimensions of Siberian vendace: up to 35 cm in length and weight up to 1 kg. Semi-anadromous fish, i.e. lives both in the salt water of the ocean and in the fresh water of Siberian rivers flowing into the Laptev Sea. Vendace is consumed fresh, salted and smoked. Rich in nutrients as well as Omega-3 fats.

Fishing methods: commercial fish. It is caught mainly with seines, because the effectiveness of conventional fishing rods is low.

Ide

Fish from the carp family. Young animals are called roaches . Lives everywhere in the taiga zone. In Siberia it is found up to Yakutia. Reaches a weight of 3 kg and a length of 55 cm. Lives up to 20 years. Omnivorous fish. Lives in rivers, lakes, ponds. Avoids fast cold water and mountain rivers. Prefers rivers with more stretches of calm water and great depth.

Fishing methods: ides are caught using conventional types of gear. Float rods, donks, spinning rods, with various spinners and spinners. The ide takes well at dusk, because at this time it feeds. The bait is worms, bloodworms, maggots, bread, bran, etc.

Perch

From the perch family. Found throughout northern Eurasia. Reaches a size of 44.7 cm and a weight of more than 2 kg. Predator, very voracious. It is eaten as a base for fish soup, fried, smoked, and dried. It is an object of sports, amateur and commercial fishing.

Fishing methods: Like all predators, perch takes well to bait of animal origin. For live bait, worm. Takes well with spinning tackle, wobblers (right picture), spinners, vibrotails, and various spinners. It usually lives together with pike, in places with a large number of small fish.

Chebak

Fish of the carp family. Chebak is a subspecies of roach, distributed mainly in the Urals and Siberia. In Siberia, the chebak lives almost everywhere. It is found in large quantities on the Kolyma, Indigirka, Lena, Yenisei and other Siberian rivers. Basically it is a small fish, but reaches a weight of up to 3.5 kg. In many reservoirs, chebak is the simplest and most popular fish. They eat it themselves and feed it to livestock, dogs and cats. Fish soup is made from it, fried, dried and smoked. In my opinion, chebak is especially good in the ear, when boiled.

Fishing methods: Chebak, like all carp fish, is omnivorous. It bites both on bait of animal origin and plant origin. Good for bloodworms, maggots, worms, dough, bread crumbs, corn. Classic chebak fishing occurs with a simple float rod.

Ruff

A species of fish from the perch family. In Siberia it lives everywhere up to the border of the tundra. A small fish, reaching only 30 cm in length and weighing up to 250 g. An unpretentious fish that can adapt to its living conditions. Schooling fish. It lives in both fresh water and slightly brackish waters. Predator, nocturnal.

Fishing methods: It bites best in spring, autumn and early winter - at this time it begins to eat. The time for fishing is morning and evening. In summer it is caught at night, in cool times. It bites on bloodworms, worms, and maggots. Tackle - float rod.

Carp is the common name for freshwater fish of the carp family. They are widely distributed in various bodies of water around the world. They prefer quiet, stagnant or slow-flowing waters with a hard clayey and slightly silted bottom. Capable of growing up to 1.2 meters in length and weighing more than 100 kg. They feed on mollusks, crustaceans, worms and insect larvae. The largest carp caught by a British angler in 2013 weighed 45.59 kg.

The common taimen is a species of large freshwater fish, the largest representative of the salmon family. They live in fast-flowing, cold rivers of Siberia and in the Amur River basin. Common taimen can grow up to 1.5–2 m long and weigh 60–80 kg. However, most mature fish caught averaged between 70 and 120 cm in length and weighed between 15 and 30 kg. The largest specimen caught, recorded by the International Game Fish Association, weighed 41.95 kg with a length of 156 cm. The species is listed in the Red Book.

The common catfish is a large freshwater, scaleless, bottom-dwelling fish that lives in deep rivers, deep channels, lakes and reservoirs throughout Europe and Asia. The body length of catfish can reach 5 m, weight - 100 kg. There is a lot of information about giant catfish, reaching 250–300 kg, but there is no documentary evidence of the existence of such catfish. It is a typical predator and feeds on fish, large benthic invertebrates, amphibians, reptiles, waterfowl, small mammals and even relatives. Like the pike, the catfish is an excellent orderly for reservoirs; it eats sick and weakened fish. Cases of attacks on people have also been described.

Nile perch is a type of large freshwater predatory fish that lives in the basins of the Congo, Nile, Senegal, Niger rivers, as well as in lakes Chad, Volta, Turkana and other reservoirs. Found in Lake Maryut in Egypt. They can grow up to 2 meters in length and weigh up to 200 kg. However, adults usually reach a length of 121–137 cm. The Nile perch is a predator that dominates in the reservoirs of residence. It feeds mainly on fish, crustaceans and insects. Where food resources are limited, they can also eat relatives.

Beluga is a species of fish from the sturgeon family. It lives in the White, Caspian, Azov, Black, and Adriatic seas, from where it enters rivers for spawning. Their body length can reach 5 m, weight - 1000 kg (usually individuals up to 2.5 m and weighing up to 200–300 kg are caught). As an exception, according to unconfirmed reports, there were individuals 9 m long and weighing up to 2 tons; if this information is correct, then the beluga can be considered the largest freshwater fish on the globe. It feeds mainly on fish, but does not neglect shellfish.

Fifth place in the list of the largest freshwater fish on the planet is occupied by the White sturgeon - a species of fish of the sturgeon family, the largest freshwater fish in North America. Inhabits the bottom of slow-moving rivers and bays along the west coast of North America. The white sturgeon can grow up to 6.1 m long and weigh 816 kg. It feeds mainly on fish, crustaceans and mollusks.

The Chinese paddlefish or psefur is a freshwater fish that lives only in the Yangtze River, sometimes swims into large lakes and the Yellow Sea. Their body length can exceed 3 meters and weight 300 kilograms. There is information that in the 1950s, fishermen caught a paddlefish 7 meters long and weighing about 500 kg, although the veracity of this story is unconfirmed. It feeds on fish and crustaceans. Its meat and caviar are highly prized in China.

The giant freshwater stingray (Himantura polylepis) is a species of freshwater stingray that lives in the tropical waters of several large rivers in Indochina and Kalimantan. Capable of growing up to 1.9 m wide and weighing 600 kg. They feed mainly on crustaceans and mollusks, possibly earthworms. The giant freshwater stingray is not aggressive, although they must be handled with care as their poisonous long spine can easily penetrate human bone. This species is endangered.

Mississippi girt

The Mississippi shellfish or alligator pike is a species of large freshwater fish common in the valley of the lower Mississippi River and its tributaries in North and Central America. This is a very fast and strong, but shy fish. According to experts, the Mississippi shellfish can grow up to 3 m in length and weigh more than 130 kg. In 2011, the largest shellfish caught was officially registered, its length was 2.572 m, weight 148 kg. It feeds mainly on fish, small mammals, birds, turtles, etc. There are known cases of attacks on children, fortunately, they never ended fatally. Included in the list of prehistoric fish that were considered extinct.

The giant catfish is the largest freshwater fish and is endangered. It is found only in the lower Mekong River, as well as in the Tonle Sap River and Tonle Sap Lake in Cambodia. Fish of this species can grow up to 3 meters in length and weigh 150–200 kg. They are herbivores - they feed mainly on algae and phytoplankton. The largest specimen caught in 2005 reached a length of 2.7 m and weighed 293 kg, and it was recognized as the largest freshwater fish caught by humans.