Frequently Asked Questions

There is a difference in the sizing, taste and firmness of the wild carp meat. The diet of wild carp varies throughout the year. Like other wild fish, the variety of natural food consumed by carp and the constant work in the river current, give wild carp meat a very “sweet” taste and firm texture. The size of the fish varies, too. Wild carp in Lake Pepin are roughly 2.0 kg – 4.0 kg (4.0-10.0 lbs). In fact, the average weight of an adult female wild carp in Lake Pepin, Minnesota is 3.1 kg (7.0 lbs.).

Farmed carp are grown in ponds. The farmed fish are consistently fed with the same food pellets. Each farm grown carp grows roughly to the same size, as the carp are not active. Most farm-raised carp reach an average size of 1.5 kg (3.0 lbs). Their taste is typically much blander than wild caught carp and the pond raised carp meat is not firm and flaky.

Chefs, restaurants and consumers prefer the size, taste and quality of wild carp meat. It’s our goal at Great River Fish Company to supply our customers with the best quality of fish available in today’s market.

To learn more about the benefits of wild caught carp vs. farmed carp, download Great River Fish Company’s brochure (PDF).

Great River Fish Company’s fish processing facility is located less than 0.75 km (1/2 mile) from the river where the wild carp are caught. The fish arrive at our plant alive and are placed into large ice bins layered with shaved ice to guarantee freshness. From there the fish are moved quickly to processing based on your order. In fact, your fish may be swimming the river only an hour before they are ready for delivery. Great River Fish Company only processes fish based on our customers’ orders. We never carry inventory ensuring the highest quality and freshness of our fish for our customers.

Another quality processing feature offered at Great River Fish Company is scale-off delivery. Our company has invested in a Japanese high-pressure fish scale remover. This ensures less damage to the meat during processing for scale-off fish products. Other mechanical scaling machines bruise and soften the fish flesh.

Typically Great River Fish Company processes a container (18,000 kg or 40,000 lbs.) in ten business days. The time of year may impact this production time. In late summer, the fish are typically scattered throughout the lake making it more difficult to catch. Also, in mid-winter the ice is moving down the river making it dangerous to fish.

Shipping times are unique for each country. However, from our experience, customers can expect approximately 14 days to Eastern Europe and 17 days to the Middle East and Asia.

Please contact Great River Fish Company if you need more information regarding fish processing timetables.

Great River Fish Company has access to wild carp, buffalo, catfish (mud and channel), and sheephead. Configurations vary based on customer needs and market influences. Our fish processing facility is set-up to process fish the following ways:

• Headed
• Headed and Gutted
• Kitchen Ready (Fish are headed, gutted and all fins removed)
• Whole or Gutted (scales-on or scales-off)
• Steaks (Kitchen Ready product is cross cut)
• Fillets and Fillet Portions (deep skinned or skin-on)

All of our wild fish products can be delivered scale-on or scale-off, skin-on or skin-off.

Note: Other configurations are available. Please contact Great River Fish Company for custom fish processing orders.

There is no minimum order for shipment of our processed fish products within the United States of America.

For international orders, either a full container or half container is standard.

Please note that your order may be divided into different configurations of our wild carp products. For example, many of our customers order a combination of Kitchen Ready, Steaks and Fillets some with skin-on and some with skin-off for their businesses.

Yes. In the United States, all fish processing plants are required to develop and implement a Seafood Hazard Analysis and Critical Control Point Plan (HACCP) by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration. This is reviewed and approved on an annual basis.

The U.S. Department of Agriculture Veterinary Services in Chicago, Illinois completes veterinary inspection services for international orders. For customers in countries requiring a veterinarian inspection, there may be up to ten-day delay in shipping due to the inspector’s schedule.

Great River Fish Company is committed to providing the freshest wild carp products available in the USA. We’re proud of the investment we’ve made in our fish processing facility that conforms to FDA and USDA standards. The European Union (EU), the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources and the State of Minnesota certify our wild fish products. We’re confident that our wild carp will meet your standards for freshness, quality, taste and texture.

NOTE: Great River Fish Company has an approved EU number for shipping into Europe.

Please contact Great River Fish Company if you need more information regarding shipments of fish to international destinations.

For payment on international orders our policy has been the following:
1) 50% down payment at time of order
2) Non-Negotiable Letter of Credit for the balance to be drawn on at the time of delivery.

NOTE: Other terms and conditions are available to qualified companies based on order size and frequency. Please contact us for more information about international orders of wild fish.

All shipments are accompanied with copies of our business liability insurance for 110% of containers value, a Bill of Lading, and Certificate of Origin for each shipment.

For domestic orders inside the USA, customers need to complete a short credit application. Please contact us for more information regarding domestic wild fish orders.

Great River Fish Company uses the highest quality waxed cardboard boxing. The box is then lined with heavy plastic. Typically boxes are filled with 20kg – 30kg of wild fish products depending on the configuration. Each box is digitally labeled according to each customer’s specific requirements.  The boxes are then stacked on pallets. A temperature monitor is included in each container to verify our fish products maintain the highest quality. Please contact Great River Fish Company if you require more packaging and labeling information for our fish products.

Our company will ship samples free of charge at your request and based on your configuration. Samples take some time to deliver due to each country's food import regulations, inspection papers, and other documentation. Please allow up to 30 days for your Great River Fish Company samples to be delivered.

Contact us to request samples of Great River Fish Company’s products.

Carp roe can only be accompanied along with other carp products. We typically remove the roe from the carp that our customers order, so the amount of roe on hand can vary. In general, every 4.5kg (10 lbs.) of fish processed will net 0.50kg (1 lb.) of carp roe or milt. However, some additional roe may be available from other orders where our customer did not require this product. Please contact us regarding your company’s roe needs. We may be able to provide additional roe.

Contact Great River Fish Company regarding carp roe and milt availability.

Due to their high quality and limited availability wild carp are commercially valuable fish.

Wild carp grow more slowly than the artificially bred forms depending on water temperature and the duration of the summer. At four years old, a wild carp may measure 35 cm and weigh 1kg, while at 15 years it may measure 60cm and weigh 4kg. The fish become sexually mature at four to five years old.

At the end of May and in June, wild carp spawn in the watery edges of lakes and rivers at temperatures of not less than 15 Celsius. The wild carp eggs attach to aquatic plants. Young carp will hatch in five days at 15 C and at 20 C in three days. The newly hatched larvae measure about 5 mm and cling to the plants until the yolk sack has been digested. Feeding first on plankton, the young wild carp fry soon change to eating bottom prey together with water plants and seeds. Carp live in shoals. They hibernate in deep, muddy spots and do not feed during the winter.

Statistics:

Size: 40-80 cm, maximum 1 m
Weight: 2-4 kg, maximum 30 kg
Fin formula: D III-IV/15-22, A III/5-6
Fecundity: 50,000-1.5 million eggs