2024 Author: Jasmine Walkman | [email protected]. Last modified: 2023-12-16 08:29
Karakudata / Carassius / or crucian is a genus of freshwater fish. The caracuds, also known as rattlesnakes, belong to the Carp family. They can be found in stagnant water pools. Caracuda eat aquatic vegetation. Some specimens are omnivorous. Curiously, these fish survive for up to two days, as long as they are wrapped in wet paper. In our country caracuda are extremely common fish. They can be found in the dams Kamchia, Alexander Stamboliyski, Sopot, Iskar, Ognyanovo, as well as in many other reservoirs.
Species of caracuda
In our country, mainly silver and gold are known caracuda. The silver has an elongated body. Its large scales are distinguished by their silvery hue. It gains faster than its golden relative and reaches a length of 35-40 centimeters. The weight of the fish can exceed 1 kilogram in some cases.
The golden one caracuda may be known by the honey or golden-brown color of its scales. Sometimes parts of the body of this species have reddish hues. Golden caracudi are relatively larger than silver ones and can gain up to 3 kilograms. Otherwise, their length is almost the same as that of the silver caracudi.
Characteristics of caracuda
The silver caracuda inhabits swampy pools, preferring slower waters. Muddy bottoms are especially attractive for rattlesnakes. The silver caracuda prefers to eat phytoplankton and zooplankton. During the colder months, caracuda are usually buried in the mud and lethargic. In silver caracudi, sexual maturity occurs between the second and fourth year, with reproduction occurring between May and July. Usually the water temperature should have reached about fifteen degrees. The caviar falls on the aquatic vegetation, where it is fertilized.
The golden one caracuda it is also attracted by swampy ponds. Like its cousin, this species spends the winter in the mud. The golden caracuda feeds on underwater vegetation and food thrown by fishermen. The golden caracuda reaches its sexual maturity at the age of five, and sometimes in the fourth. In order to spawn, the water temperature must be at least 14 degrees. The caviar sticks to the underwater plants and is fertilized immediately. The process lasts 2-3 days.
Caracuda fishing
Karakudata it is relatively easy to catch, which is why it is among the traditional prey of inexperienced fishermen. However, before throwing the tackle, you should thoroughly explore the area and make sure that the conditions suggest the presence of a rattlesnake in the water.
If you are convinced of the swampiness of the pond, pay attention to the bubbles in the water - they can be a sign of the presence of specimens of this genus. If you are going to use bait, do not overdo it. The idea is not to saturate the fish, but simply to attract its attention. Otherwise, you can get bait from a specialized store or use home-made products such as broken bread.
Taranka is caught on the bottom and floats. Corn grains, boiled wheat, white worm, dough, etc. are used as bait. Sometimes it happens at one point that the fish bites on a certain bait, and at the next moment does not show interest. That is why more experienced fishermen recommend stocking with several types of bait. Otherwise, float fishing can start in the first days of spring. Float fishing is suitable when we are not aiming for large specimens. Otherwise, you better bet on the bottom.
Caracuda cleaning
As you already know, caracuda it is not a big fish, but it has a lot of bones. Before cleaning, the fish is washed well with cold water. The scales are then removed. Smaller specimens up to a hundred grams are fried whole, removing the heads and tails if desired. Larger fish are cut in half along the spine and cleaned from the entrails and everything that is unnecessary. Then you can wash the meat once more and dry it. The rattlesnake often carries the scent of the pond it inhabited.
To remove it, you can soak the cleaned meat in fresh milk for a while. As the caught specimens are mostly female, caviar can be found in their bellies. It is cleaned of the skins and then washed. Set aside a little while the water separates, then salt and put in a jar. In this form, the caviar is kept in the refrigerator for two weeks. Once it turns orange, it can be prepared.
Cooking caracuda
Ram meat is not the most luxurious, but there is no denying that it is appetizing, as long as it is cleaned and cooked well. It is true that the fish has a lot of bones, but when frying the smaller ones melt, so only the big ones will create work for you. Larger caracudi can be used in more dishes than small ones. They can be baked, boiled, smoked, breaded or marinated. Combine well with tomatoes, carrots, onions, garlic, potatoes and cooked beans. Suitable spices for caracuda are parsley, dill, black pepper, devesil, turmeric and others.
Benefits of caracuda
Caracuda contains useful vitamins such as A, B, C, D and E. It is also a source of copper, zinc, manganese, iodine and others. Consumption of this type of fish (and not only) has a tonic effect on the whole human body, stimulates the brain and improves mental abilities. Eating fish is also good for eyesight. That is why scientists advise to eat fish at least once a week.
