Fish - Danube Delta
In the Danube Delta, in the 25 km2 of lake an channels there live over 110 species of fish, 75 species of fresh waters, 36 of them being specific to the Delta.
The highest fishing potential is here, where 50% of the national fish production is obtained.
Among the fish species in the Danube Delta, sturgeons have a special place. The great sturgeon, the common sturgeon, the sevruga, and the red sterlet, which yield fine black roe (caviar).
In the left pictures is a stor sturgeon.
THE PIKE (Esox lucius) 
Description: Predator fish number one, the pike watches still the pray until it comes closer so it can attack at the right time. The spindle-shaped body is perfectly adapted for a striking spurt. The pike has a rapid growth, reaching 15 mm in only three weeks and its sexual maturity at the age of 3 years, when it weighs about 700-800 grams, and it can reach a weight of 20 kilos. The largest pike caught in the Danube Delta weighed 16 kilos! The reproduction period is after the ice has melted (that is in February-March). The optimal feeding temperature for the pike is 17-180C. There are 8 species of the Esox family of which 6 are in the North America. The minimal dimension of the caught pike is 40 cm.
The lure used for sportive fishing The most used and efficient lure in the Danube Delta is the oscillator. You can also get good results using wobblers and spinners. An advisable lure when the pike is slothful and when it doesn't bite the spoon is live fish.
Fishing places in the Danube Delta - Caraorman:The pike generally prefers clear shallow waters with rich vegetation. Deeper lakes such as Puiulet, Lumina, shallow and with rich vegetation areas such as flood patches, clogged channels such as Suez, or portions of channels where the lack of stream has lead to the clearing of the water Crisan-Caraorman channel.
Fishing period : except the prohibition period that starts on the 1st of February and lasts for about 2 months, the pike is fished during the whole year. There are periods when they are harder to find: for example in the spring time when the flood elevations are reached and the fish go into the moore surfaces, so the pike follows them in these places. During summer months due to the vegetation and the large amount of fish sapling, the pike isn't very attracted by the spoons: one usually gets smaller items. While during autumn, when it goes to winter sleep and the hornwort falls on the bottom of the lake, large items are caught. The optimal period for pike is October.
Fishing tips pike.
THE CATFISH (SHEATFISH) (Silurus glanis) 
Description: The cat fish is the largest fish in the fresh waters of Romania, the record in the Danube Delta is of 400 kilos. It is a grey fish without scales, its skin being protected by layer of mucus. It has a pair of mustaches on its upper jaw and on its lower jaw it has 4 mustaches used for sensing, which together with the very developed smell are used to compensate the very bad eyesight. These are signs of adapting to the deep and muddy waters. The minimal dimension of a caught catfish is of 50 cm.
The lure used for sportive fishing: In the Delta the frequent lure is the mole cricket, a worm pile, frogs, live bait (fry especially), twister, wobbler and spoon. Artificial lures aren't very successfully.
Fishing places in the Danube Delta - Caraorman: usually the catfish gets together on the bottom of deep channels in pits: Crisan-Caraorman channel.
Fishing period: During summer the catfish feeds intensively and the July is a very good fishing period. During wintertime it goes into pits for winter sleep and its activity decreased along with the water temperature.
THE CARP (Cyprinus carpio)
 Description: It is a large fish that can reach weight of 40 kilos. It has a long and flat body covered with big scales. A characteristic feature of the cyprinid family is their mouth with lips that can extend to the shape of a tube, a sign of adaptation to the way of feeding under water. Its spawning time is in April - May. The optimal temperature is of 190C. The minimal dimension of a caught carp is of 35 cm.
The lure used for sportive fishing: mamaliga, boabe de porumb, rame, viermusi. Pentru asigurarea succesului unei partide de pescuit foarte important este nadirea locului, cu porumb, mamaliga, etc.
Fishing places in the Danube Delta - Caraorman: During the summer, doe to the high temperature and the low level of the water, the carp migrates from the shallow lakes to the channels, where it can find a fresh water channels, there are also periods when the Crisan-Caraorman channel is full of carp and also moments when it is hard to find.
Fishing period: After the prohibition that is from mid July to October and if the weather is nice it can also be caught in November. September is considerate to be the best month for carp fishing.
THE ZANDER (Stizostedion lucioperca)
Description: The resemblance of the zander with the pike and the perch is given also by its Latin name lucio and perca. It is grey green and its body is long and round. It has a large mouth and sharp teeth that is why for zander fishing, a string of resistant material is used, as in the case of the pike. The reproduction takes place in April - May. The largest zander fished in the Delta weighed 15 kilos. The minimal dimension of a caught zander is of 40 cm..
The lure used for sportive fishing: live fish (fry), pieces of fish, twister, spinner.
Fishing places in the Danube Delta - Caraorman: we can find the zander in the fresh waters of the large lake Puiulet, Lumina, but is it generally fished in channels.
Fishing period: During the whole fishing period, especially during fall.
THE CRUCIAN (Carassius auratus)
Description: It has a flat body and big silvery scales. A very prolific fish it is largely spread and it is appreciated for the taste of its meat. The crucian is a very stout fish, that is why we can encounter it in waters with low oxygen level, while other fish can't. It has probably appeared in the Danube Delta by accident following the flood of the 70'. Its usual weight is of 500-800 grams and the minimal dimension of a caught crucian is of 15 cm.
The lure used for sportive fishing: is the worm, polenta, bread, etc.
Fishing places in the Danube Delta - Caraorman: it is fished in places with low stream or even lacking stream Crisan-Caraorman.
Fishing period: The same as the carp, Starting from June and up to October.
THE RAPACIOUS CARP (Aspius aspius)
Description: It is a predator fish with long and flat body. It has medium sized silvery scales. It is a pretentious fish with short periods of intensive feeding(1-2 hours) and quite exasperating slothfullness moments. The minimal dimension of a caught rapacious carp is of 30 cm.
The lure used for sportive fishing: spinners and small oscillators, live fish, twister. It is very suspicious, that is why the line should be very thin: a 0.25 mm wire should do.
Fishing places in the Danube Delta - Caraorman: usually at the confluences of channels but also in larger lakes channels, Crisan-Caraorman.
Fishing period: During the whole fishing period, but mostly in autumn.
THE PERCH (Perca fluviatilis)
Description: It is easily recognizable by its specific colors and by its back fin which is very stingy. It is very a greedy predator fish, with a large mouth and small teeth. The reproduction takes place in March - May. It usually reaches the weight of 500 grams and the minimal dimension of a caught perch is of 12 cm.
The lure used for sportive fishing: is the worm, the spinner, twister, leech pieces, fry, frog.
Fishing places in the Danube Delta - Caraorman: It is usually fished at the confluences of channels, where two streams meet, where the muddy water mingles with clear water channels, Crisan-Caraorman.
Fishing period: the perch is successfully fished all through the year excepting prohibition, and the most favourable are as for any predator, the months of autumn. It is very active during winter, too.
THE RED SURMULLET (Scardinius erythrophthalmus)
Description: The name of this fish comes from the red color of its fins. The body is long and flat its scales are silvery. It is a fish part of the cyprinid family. The reproduction takes place in April - May. The usual weight is of 300-400 grams and the minimal dimension of the caught red surmullet is of 15 cm.
The lure used for sportive fishing: is the worm, polenta, bread.
Fishing places in the Danube Delta - Caraormanclear water Crisan-Caraorman, but also at the meeting of muddy stream with clear stream.
Fishing period: Starting from June and up to October.
THE BREAM (Abramis brama)
Description: The body of the bream is very flat. It generally feeds on the bottom of lakes in deep places. Its usual weight is of 0.50-1 kilo and the minimal dimension of caught is of 25 cm.
The lure used for sportive fishing: is the worm, polenta, bread.
Fishing places in the Danube Delta - Caraorman: it is fished on the bottom of the channel, where they meet channels, Crisan-Caraorman.
Fishing period: Starting from June and up to October.
THE TENCH (Tinca tinca)
Description: The body is long and covered by extremely small scales, and is grey green. It lives in the fresh clear waters. Its usual weight is of 500-800 grams and minimal dimension of the caught tench is of 25 cm.
The lure used for sportive fishing: is the worm, bread.
Fishing places in the Danube Delta - Caraorman: in fish ponds, in stuck channels or those which lack stream: Crisan-Caraorman
Fishing period: Starting from June and up to October.
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