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Top 10 carp fishing tips - a Quest Baits Masterclass

Description of the Spotted Sharpnose Puffer Fish

Spotted Sharpnose Puffer Fish Description of the Spotted Sharpnose Puffer Fish The Spotted Sharpnose Puffer Fish is mainly found on the Reefs off the island of Hawaii, it is a medium brown fish with white spots. Profile of the Spotted Sharpnose Puffer Fish This Profile contains interesting facts and information about the Spotted Sharpnose Puffer Fish species. Size: Max 5 inches   Fish Tank conditions: Temperature 80 °F - pH 8.3 - Minimum Tank Size 30 gallons   Temperament: Usually peaceful if the tank has adequate volume.   Diet / Feeding: Most live and frozen foods   Habitat: Tropical & sub-tropical coastal marine waters   Behaviour: Should not be kept with Starfish, hard Corals and invertebrates   Range:  Western Indian Ocean. Scientific Classification of the Spotted Sharpnose Puffer Fish Definition: Scientific classification, or biological classification, is how biologists group and categorize species of organisms with shared physical characteristics. Scientific classification belongs to the science of taxonomy. Species: Canthigaster jactator Popular Names: Spotted Sharpnose Puffer - Hawaiian white spotted toby - Sharpnose Pufferfish - Sharp nose Puffer fish Kingdom: Animalia Family: Tetraodontidae   Interesting Facts and Information - How do you identify the sex of a Spotted Sharpnose Puffer Fish? The males and females of many fish species have different colors or different shaped bodies. But there are also other fish species where there is no visible difference. Its sometimes tricky being an ichthyologist! Interesting Facts and Information - Why are Spotted Sharpnose Puffer Fish slimy? Spotted Sharpnose Puffer Fish secrete a type of mucus, or slime, from their skin. This slime provides protection against parasites and infections and helps the Spotted Sharpnose Puffer Fish to move through the water faster. Some fish species also release toxins in their slime which ward off enemy attacks. Other fish species use their slime to feed their young. Interesting Facts and Information - Why do Spotted Sharpnose Puffer Fish have gills? Gills enable the Spotted Sharpnose Puffer Fish to breathe. Gills consist of thin sheets of tissue containing blood vessels. As water passes over the gills oxygen is absorbed into the blood stream Carbon dioxide passes out into the water. The gills are protected by a large bony plate called an operculum. Some fish species however have lungs and breathe air. Interesting Facts and Information - Why do the Spotted Sharpnose Puffer Fish have fins? A fin is an external appendage or "limb" of a fish. Fins are used for directing, stabilizing, or propelling the different fish species in water. Numbers of fins vary between fish species, but there are usually seven. Each of the fins on a fish are designed to perform a specific function:      Dorsal fins - The dorsal fin is located on the backs of fishes. The Spotted Sharpnose Puffer Fish has Dorsal fins to lend stability in swimming. Ventral fins. The ventral fin is located on the pelvic area of fishes. The Spotted Sharpnose Puffer Fish has Ventral fins to lend stability in swimming. Caudal fins. The Caudal fin is located on the tail area of fishes. The Spotted Sharpnose Puffer  Fish has Caudal fins to propel through the water. Pectoral fins. The Pectoral fin is located on the breast area of fishes. The Spotted Sharpnose Puffer Fish has Pectoral fins to for locomotion and side to side movement.

Description Puffer Fish

Puffer Fish The site that provides beautiful photographs and pictures of numerous Pufferfish species together with interesting facts and information about each type of fish. Interesting Information about Puffer Fish Pufferfish when threatened can inflate their body by swallowing water to increase their apparent size to deter predators. In addition some puffers produce an extremely poisonous toxin called anhydrotetrodotoxin 4-epitetrodotoxin and is over a 1,000 times more poisonous than potassium cyanide, this toxin is found in the skin, liver, and gonads. Some puffers are considered a  delicacy, this is especially true in Japan, if not prepared properly, eating them can cause serious illness, or even death, this explains the precaution of a  doctors presence in Japanese restaurants serving their customers Pufferfish, this is a result of strict government regulation and licensing. Facts about Fish Species - How do you identify the sex of a Puffer Fish?   The males and females of many fish species have different colors or different shaped bodies. But there are also other fish species where there is no visible difference. Its sometimes tricky being an ichthyologist! Facts about Fish Species - Why are Puffer Fish slimy? Puffer Fish secrete a type of mucus, or slime, from their skin. This slime provides protection against parasites and infections and helps the Puffer Fish to move through the water faster. Some Pufferfish species also release toxins in their slime which ward off predatory attacks, the toxin is produced by the bacteria Pseudomonas which the fish obtains from the food it eats. Facts about Fish Species - Why do Puffer Fish have gills? Gills enable the Puffer Fish to breathe. Gills consist of thin sheets of tissue containing blood vessels. As water passes over the gills oxygen is absorbed into the blood stream Carbon dioxide passes out into the water. The gills are protected by a large bony plate called an operculum. Some fish species however have lungs and breathe air. Facts about Fish Species - Why do the Puffer Fish have fins? A fin is an external appendage or "limb" of a fish. Fins are used for directing, stabilizing, or propelling the different fish species in water. Numbers of fins vary between fish species, but there are usually seven. Each of the fins on a fish are designed to perform a specific function: Dorsal fins - The dorsal fin is located on the backs of fishes. The Puffer Fish has Dorsal fins to lend stability in swimming.   Ventral fins. The ventral fin is located on the pelvic area of fishes. The Puffer Fish has Ventral fins to lend stability in swimming.   Caudal fins. The Caudal fin is located on the tail area of fishes. The Puffer Fish has Caudal fins to propel through the water.   Pectoral fins. The Pectoral fin is located on the breast area of fishes. The Puffer Fish has Pectoral fins to for locomotion and side to side movement

Goldfish

Goldfish
The site that provides beautiful photographs and pictures of numerous goldfish species together with interesting facts and information about each type of fish.

Interesting Information about Goldfish
The Goldfish (Carassius auratus auratus) is the most popular aquarium fish and is usually the first experience most fish keepers will have with an aquarium fish! There are many types of Gold fish available and they come in a variety of colors and sizes. Some have features such as Split Tails, Dorsal Fins, Bubble Eyes and Long Fins but they all originated from a species of Wild Carp (Carassius auratus) native to East Asia. Goldfish can be keep indoors in a coldwater aquarium or alternatively can be kept in an outdoor pond.

Goldfish are an ideal starter fish and make a perfect first pet for a young child. They require very little care and are extremely hardy. Common Goldfish, Comets and Shubunkins are the hardiest varieties and are the recommended choice for the beginner. Did you know that a goldfish can live for up to ten years? Remember the 3 second goldfish memory joke? There is a myth that goldfish have a memory span of just three seconds, recent research has proven this to be inaccurate and scientists now believe that goldfish have a memory span of between three and five months!

Facts about Fish Species - How do you identify the sex of a Goldfish?
The males and females of many fish species have different colors or different shaped bodies. But there are also other fish species where there is no visible difference. Its sometimes tricky being an ichthyologist!

Facts about Fish Species - Why are Goldfish slimy?
Goldfish secrete a type of mucus, or slime, from their skin. This slime provides protection against parasites and infections and helps the Goldfish to move through the water faster. Some fish species also release toxins in their slime which ward off enemy attacks. Other fish species use their slime to feed their young.

Facts about Fish Species - Why do Goldfish have gills?
Gills enable the Goldfish to breathe. Gills consist of thin sheets of tissue containing blood vessels. As water passes over the gills oxygen is absorbed into the blood stream Carbon dioxide passes out into the water. The gills are protected by a large bony plate called an operculum. Some fish species however have lungs and breathe air.

Facts about Fish Species - Why do the Goldfish have fins?
A fin is an external appendage or "limb" of a fish. Fins are used for directing, stabilizing, or propelling the different fish species in water. Numbers of fins vary between fish species, but there are usually seven. Each of the fins on a fish are designed to perform a specific function:

• Dorsal fins - The dorsal fin is located on the backs of fishes. The Goldfish has Dorsal fins to lend stability in swimming.
• Ventral fins. The ventral fin is located on the pelvic area of fishes. The Goldfish has Ventral fins to lend stability in swimming.
• Caudal fins. The Caudal fin is located on the tail area of fishes. The Goldfish has Caudal fins to propel through the water.
• Pectoral fins. The Pectoral fin is located on the breast area of fishes. The Goldfish has Pectoral fins to for locomotion and side to side movement

Tropical Fish

Tropical Fish

Tropical Fish

The site that provides beautiful photographs, videos and pictures of numerous fish species together with interesting facts and information about each type of fish.
 

Interesting Information about Tropical Fish

In 1853, the first public aquarium was opened in Regents Park, London. This was closely followed by Americas first tropical aquarium opened in New York by P.T Barnum and known as Barnum's American Museum. Since then the hobby of tropical fish has grown vastly in popularity.


Tropical fish can be either Saltwater (also known as Marine) or Freshwater species and are available in a huge variety of colors and sizes. Successfully Keeping tropical fish is a skill, not all fish are good community fish and different species require a variety of water conditions such as temperature and PH levels.

When selecting fish for your aquarium, it is advisable to do as much research as possible and not select fish based on their appearance alone, this can lead to disaster!

Different species live at different depths and it is recommended to take this into consideration when selecting species. Fish can be surface, middle and bottom feeders. If in doubt, ask an expert, your local fish shop will be more than happy to help and advise.

Facts about Fish Species - How do you identify the sex of a Tropical Fish?

The males and females of many fish species have different colors or different shaped bodies. But there are also other fish species where there is no visible difference. Its sometimes tricky being an ichthyologist!

Facts about Fish Species - Why are Tropical Fish slimy?

Tropical Fish secrete a type of mucus, or slime, from their skin. This slime provides protection against parasites and infections and helps the Tropical Fish to move through the water faster. Some fish species also release toxins in their slime which ward off enemy attacks. Other fish species use their slime to feed their young.


Facts about Fish Species - Why do Tropical Fish have gills?

Gills enable the Tropical Fish to breathe. Gills consist of thin sheets of tissue containing blood vessels. As water passes over the gills oxygen is absorbed into the blood stream Carbon dioxide passes out into the water. The gills are protected by a large bony plate called an operculum. Some fish species however have lungs and breathe air.

Facts about Fish Species - Why do the Tropical Fish have fins?

A fin is an external appendage or "limb" of a fish. Fins are used for directing, stabilizing, or propelling the different fish species in water. Numbers of fins vary between fish species, but there are usually seven. Each of the fins on a fish are designed to perform a specific function:

Each of the fins on a fish are designed to perform a specific function:

• Dorsal fins - The dorsal fin is located on the backs of fishes. The Tropical Fish has Dorsal fins to lend stability in swimming.
   
• Ventral fins. The ventral fin is located on the pelvic area of fishes. The Tropical Fish has Ventral fins to lend stability in swimming.
   
• Caudal fins. The Caudal fin is located on the tail area of fishes. The Tropical Fish has Caudal fins to propel through the water.
   
• Pectoral fins. The Pectoral fin is located on the breast area of fishes. The Tropical Fish has Pectoral fins to for locomotion and side to side movement

  

Marine Fish

Marine Fish
The site that provides beautiful photographs and pictures of numerous fish species together with interesting facts and information about each type of fish.

Interesting Information about Marine Fish
There are hundreds of species suitable for marine aquariums, from Fish to Sharks and Coral to Crustaceans. A huge variety of shapes and colors are available but before purchasing it is important to research each species and their individual requirements.  Fish native to the Atlantic ocean will have different requirements to those from the, Pacific or Indian Ocean. Certain fish are not ideal for a community aquarium and need to be kept isolated! Special consideration needs to be given to the types of filters used and the quality and temperature of the water. If in doubt, ask your local pet shop for their advice.

Facts about Fish Species - How do you identify the sex of a Marine Fish?
The males and females of many fish species have different colors or different shaped bodies. But there are also other fish species where there is no visible difference. Its sometimes tricky being an ichthyologist!

Facts about Fish Species - Why are Marine Fish slimy?
Marine Fish secrete a type of mucus, or slime, from their skin. This slime provides protection against parasites and infections and helps the Marine Fish to move through the water faster. Some fish species also release toxins in their slime which ward off enemy attacks. Other fish species use their slime to feed their young.

Facts about Fish Species - Why do Marine Fish have gills?
Gills enable the Marine Fish to breathe. Gills consist of thin sheets of tissue containing blood vessels. As water passes over the gills oxygen is absorbed into the blood stream Carbon dioxide passes out into the water. The gills are protected by a large bony plate called an operculum. Some fish species however have lungs and breathe air.

Facts about Fish Species - Why do the Marine Fish have fins?
A fin is an external appendage or "limb" of a fish. Fins are used for directing, stabilizing, or propelling the different fish species in water. Numbers of fins vary between fish species, but there are usually seven. Each of the fins on a fish are designed to perform a specific function:

• Dorsal fins - The dorsal fin is located on the backs of fishes. The Marine Fish has Dorsal fins to lend stability in swimming.
• Ventral fins. The ventral fin is located on the pelvic area of fishes. The Marine Fish has Ventral fins to lend stability in swimming.
• Caudal fins. The Caudal fin is located on the tail area of fishes. The Marine Fish has Caudal fins to propel through the water.
• Pectoral fins. The Pectoral fin is located on the breast area of fishes. The Marine Fish has Pectoral fins to for locomotion and side to side movement

Interesting Facts and Information about Marine Fish
 

Marine Fish

• Interesting Information about Marine Fish
• Facts about Fish Species - Why are Marine Fish slimy?
• Why do the Marine Fish have gills?
• Facts about Fish Species - Why do the Marine Fish have fins?

Clown Fish

Clown Fish
The site that provides beautiful photographs, videos and pictures of numerous Clownfish species together with interesting facts and information about each type of fish.

Interesting Information about Clown Fish
Clown fish are an extremely well known fish and are very popular with children due to the success of the 2003 Pixar movie 'Finding Nemo' which stars an over protective clown fish called Marlin who is searching for his lost son Nemo.  They are often referred to as a Nemo fish!

Clownfish make an ideal Marine fish for the beginner as they are quite hardy. It is advisable to keep a single pair of clownfish in your aquarium as one pair will strive to become dominant and may even try to kill the other fish. Don't add different species or they will fight!  Clown fish are a very easy fish to keep in your aquarium but it is recommended that you add an anemone to the tank in order to allow the fish to behave as they do in their natural environment. They are immune to the stinging ability of Sea Anemones and this is where they spend a lot of their time and indeed where they lay their eggs.

These fish will breed easily in an aquarium and the female will deposit approximately 200-300 eggs close to the sea anemone which the male will then guard. The eggs are yellow in color to begin with and will darken as they mature ready to hatch in seven to ten days.

Carp Bait: Treat a carp to its Favourite Meal

A carp is an intelligent fish and it also has a memory. It knows what’s good and what’s not edible. Carp may test the food’s nutritional content, its taste or to determine if it has gone off. It may reject bait because it remembers that a particular substance or smell was previously accompanied by a hook.

Like all creatures, carp have daily nutritional requirements for vitamins, minerals, proteins, amino acids (lysine and methionine), carbohydrates, oil and fibre. Carp can smell amino acids emitted by bloodworms, crayfish, and aquatic plants. Green-lipped mussel extract, kelp extract, liver powder and molasses contain sucrose and amino acids, which the carp has learned to recognise as having nutritional value. Some anglers use peanuts. While peanuts contain lipids, sugars and amino acids, these do not mimic the natural foods carp like.

Carp love boilies, bread crust, meat baits, maize, fruity flavours (items containing vitamin C), stilton cheese, white fishmeal (herring meal is very desirable to carp), full fat soya flour, lactalbumin, rennet casein, robin red, hemp and seaweed extract. The best items are those that either emit favourable smells or contain ingredients which mimic them. Carp will also eat flavoured imitation baits. When boilies fail to attract them, artificial corn will usually work. Zoom Carp Snacks have been used successfully by many carp anglers. The snacks come in honey, vanilla, strawberry and chocolate flavours.

What works one place at one time of the year will not necessarily work at another or during a different season. Anglers often use easily digested food/ingredients in bait during the winter because carp don't move much due to the cold conditions. In the summer months, when fish are more active, anglers should use more protein in their baits. Older carp, however, require less protein.

Boilies

There are shelf life boilies and there are the homemade varieties. Generally, if you make your own boilies they should work out cheaper and if done correctly, some anglers swear, more effective. You must make up your own mind on which is best for you and your situation.

At the time of writing, Mainline makes boilies in several different flavours that are attractive to carp. These include Strawberry Jam, Sweet Pineapple, Tiger Nut, Tutti-Frutti, and Halibut. The 18mm versions are designed to catch in all fishing situations. Newfields makes Fire and Ice (F&I) boilies. They are a blend of marine proteins, milk protein, vegetable extracts, kelp, belachan block, hot chilli powder, spices and betaine. F&I boilies are available in 14-24mm sizes. They are designed for year round usage and are especially valuable in the cold winter months.

Making a boilie at home is akin to making a cake. You mix 6-10 eggs; flavours and additives; liquids; maize, corn semolina, soy flours; powdered milk and sugar to form a paste. Almond essence, liver flavour, anchovy concentrate, squid, octopus, amino acids, peach and pepper flavours, betaine, shellfish, plum, fruit, green lipped mussel, red salmon oil and curry powder are particularly effective additives. The mixture is rolled into a ball, placed into a fry basket and then boiled for 1-3 minutes. The finished boilies are dried on paper for 2-3 days. They are now ready to use or they can be stored in the freezer.

 

There are various types of boilies depending on the materials used. High Nutritional Value (HNV) boilies incorporate a range of ingredients that benefit the fish in some way. A typical HNV mix will include digestible or predigested casein's, proteins, vitamins and minerals. An angler making his own boilies can add other flavours, colours, and enhancers. The drawback to HNV baits is that they are expensive. Best results using HNV boilies are achieved from June to November.

High Attract (HA) boilies are generally buoyant. They are normally used as a single hook bait (no free offerings around the hook bait). The HA boilies are over flavoured, producing a brightly coloured bait that stands out from the lake bed. The high level of attraction is produced with the aid of a bait dip, soak or glug. The baits are very effective all year round, but especially so during the really cold winter months when the carp don’t want to get their heads down to feed.

Soluble boilies are not used to place the hook in the carp’s mouth. Instead, they dissolve and form a particle layer on the bottom with an intense scent that cause the carps to investigate. They have delicious flavors, usually wheat, maize, or cinnamon amongst others. The soluble boilies are made without eggs. The flours, including portions of salt or sugar, are mixed with water or with milk. The boilies are not cooked and left to air dry.

Non-soluble pellets are made the same as regular boilies. Instead of being rolled into balls, they are formed into long cylinders, cut into sections, cooked in water, and dried on paper.

Particle baits

Particles refer to seeds, nuts and grains that are used as either hook bait or groundbait. The best known and most widely used is maize. It makes a great bait after soaking and boiling. Tiger nuts are brown nuts with a very rough texture. They are one of the hardest particles around and must soak for 24 hours before being boiled for 30 minutes. The prepared nuts are best when left in the water for 2-3 days after boiling. The water is turned milky white due to sugars in the nuts. Two nuts on a hair rig are excellent as a bottom bait. To make a pop-up (buoyant bait), sandwich a piece of cork shaped like a nut between two nuts on a hair rig. Other particle baits include hemp, hempseed, maple peas, and lupins. Flavorings, dips and additives make particle baits more attractive to carp. One of the best commercial particle baits is WackerBlendPlus.

Groundbaits

Groundbait is made from different kinds of natural ingredients such as bread crumbs, hemp, walnut flour and so on. It is moistened with water, formed into balls and thrown into the water where you plan to fish. The carp are attracted to the smell and clouding of the water. One of the best types of groundbait is made by van den Eynde. There are numerous groundbait fishing tactics helping to catch more carp!

Live baits

The diet of small carp includes black midges and animals without backbones ½ millimeter+ long (the size of a pencil dot). These animals live on rocks, logs, sediment, debris and aquatic plants during some phase of their life. They include crayfish, clams, snails, aquatic worms and the immature forms of aquatic insects, such as stonefly and mayfly nymphs.

The adult carps are omnivores, and their diet includes molluscs, water fleas, aquatic crustaceans, sea lice, lawn shrimp, beach flees, aquatic and terrestrial insects, detritus, seeds, fragments of dead aquatic plants and filamentous algae

There are a number of live baits that you use to catch carp. These are the same creatures that carp would find in the water. Mainline makes bloodworm extract stik pellets, which easily break down and draw carp to your baiting area. Dynamite Baits makes fishmeal boilies containing flavours that carp like, such as crab, shrimp, octopus, halibut, oyster, and chicken.