Catla Fish

This fish is distributed throughout India. It attains maximum length of about 180 cm but is suitable for food when it is not more than 61 cm. Body is deep stout with broad snout and mouth is large provided with prominent lower lip and large gill apparatus. The color is grayish on the dorsal side while silver on the lateral side. Fins are dark and sometime black also. Catla is one of the fastest growing fishes and largest carp which migrate towards rivers in plain regions in the breeding season i.e. from June to August. After 16 to 18 hours of fertilization larvae are hatched which are 4.4 to 5.3 mm in length. The young ones measure up to 15 to 20 cm in length and feed exclusively on water fleas. This can grow 7.5 to 10 cm per month and 2 pounds per year in weight. Catla is very strong fish and can jump over the fishing net when captured inside the net.