Old Carp Syndrome
In many fish productive reservoirs, carp may at first carp reproduce successfully, resulting in one or two strong year classes in succession (flood years). Their long lifespan (up to 15 years or more) and potential to reach a large size allow fish from strong year classes to grow steadily, rapidly at first, but more slowly later on as they become large and exceed natural limits of their food supply. Eventually the reservoir has large, old carp whose reproductive success is poorer, because the reservoir's carrying capacity for carp is reached. Growth and survival rates of young-of-the-year are low. Although few young carp are added to the population, The Old Carp Syndrome may persist for years until a die off reduces the dominant year classes. If a die off is sudden, or large amounts removed, the size of the carp dynamics change that 30 pounder removed now has six 5 pounders (dink city)