Roger's Angling Pages
Pelecus cultratus		Carp family Cyprinidae

This fish is one of the lesser known, but is still a very interesting type of Carp family. It is similar to Bleak in its body shape and coloration. Its toothless mouth is in a high position. Its extended pectoral fins reach as far as the ventral ones. It is characterised by a zig-zag lateral line and a sharp scaleless, underside. The head has striking large eyes. It grows to a weight of I lb and occasionally to 2 lb.

Pelecus cultratus is found in rivers and dams in the hinterland of the Baltic, Caspian and Black Seas. Although it usually lives in sea water it can travel far up the rivers. In the Danube it frequents the bays in the bends of the river, where it lives mainly on various insects. Larger individuals also eat larval fishes. It can adjust to changing living conditions, for example those following the construction of river dams.

Pelecus cultratus spawns in spring in midstream, where the female deposits several thousand eggs, which float freely with the current.

Occasionally this species can be caught when fly fishing for Asp or when it attacks a small lure. In some places it can be caught more frequently.