Fishes of Lake Garda

The largest lake in Italy is Lake Garda, which is home to an extraordinary variety of fish that inhabit its waters. From the prized carpione to lake sardines, from perch to lake trout, each species tells a story of adaptation and coexistence. In this article I will introduce you to the names and salient features of the fishes of Lake Garda, analysing the habits and curiosities linked to each species.

Shad (Alosa fallax lacustris)

Dialectal names: sardéla, sardena, sarda, sardella, scaravina, cheppia, alosa.

The shad, also known as lake sardine, is an indigenous fish of the large pre-alpine lakes, also found in some lakes in central Italy. It has a relatively tall, laterally flattened body, large eyes covered with a protective transparent eyelid, and a row of blackish spots along its flanks that can vary from 1 to 12. It grows rapidly during the first years, reaching around 15 cm in the first year and up to 30 cm in the fourth year, with a maximum weight of 3-5 ounces. It lives mainly in deep waters, forming large shoals that make long migrations to feed. The shad is omnivorous and feeds mainly on plankton, but also on fish larvae and eggs. Larger specimens may prey on small fish, such as bleak. Spawning takes place between May and July in shallow gravel beds, with females laying up to 22,000 eggs, mostly at night, when the water temperature is between 15 and 25 °C. The very small eggs hatch within a few days, ensuring a new generation that reaches sexual maturity between 2-4 years. Despite the presence of many fishbones, the shad is highly valued for the quality of its very tasty meat. It is fished both professionally and for sport, especially during the spawning season. Sport fishing is carried out both from the boat and from the shore, using specific equipment.

Bleak (Alburnus alburnus alborella)

Dialectal names: àola, àgola, àvola, àvla, pessina, pessàta, pesset.

The bleak is a small cyprinid with a slender, laterally compressed body, silvery flanks and greenish-grey back. The head is small, the eyes are large and the mouth oblique, while the forked caudal fin has pointed ends. The average size is 10-12 centimetres, with a maximum weight of about 60 grams, and an average life span of 9-10 years. This native subspecies is widespread in the subalpine lakes of northern Italy and, thanks to recent introductions, also in central Italy, although it is absent on the islands. It lives in surface pelagic waters, forming large shoals that sometimes migrate towards the shores, preferring greater depths in winter. The bleak's diet consists mainly of larvae, small insects, algae and micro-organisms. The spawning period extends from May to August with nocturnal spawning on sandy or gravelly bottoms, peaking in early to mid-July. Each kilogram of body weight can produce more than 250,000 eggs, which hatch in 4-5 days at a temperature of around 20 °C. Despite its small size, the bleak has an important economic yield and until a few years ago was fished in large quantities in Lake Garda.

Eel (Anguilla anguilla)

Dialectal names: anguìla, anguèla, bisàto, capitine.

The eel has a serpentine body, cylindrical and flattened towards the tail, covered with elliptical scales and a thick layer of mucus that makes it slimy. It has a wide mouth with conical teeth, small eyes, tubular nostrils and fins joined in a continuous structure. Its colouration varies from brown to dark green on the back and yellowish white on the belly. Males reach around 50 cm in length, while females exceed one metre and weigh up to 5-6 kg. Widespread along the Mediterranean and Baltic coasts, in European lakes and watercourses, the eel is autochthonous in Italy. In Lake Garda, its population has decreased due to artificial obstacles such as the Salionze dam on the River Mincio, but continuous repopulation ensures its presence. During the day it takes refuge in sandy dens and then hunts at night. Its diet is based on invertebrates, small fish and eggs, confirming its predatory behaviour. The eel is fished by both professionals and sportsmen (unless prohibited), using various fishing techniques, including bottom fishing with worms. In the past, the eel was also caught using traditional tools such as nets and spears.

Barbel (Barbus barbus)

Dialectal names: barbio, barbè.

The barbel is a cyprinid with a slender and robust body, with a massive front and a slimmer rear. Covered in medium-sized scales, it has a wedge-shaped head and protruding lips with four barbels useful for probing the seabed in search of food. The colouration of this fish varies depending on the environment in which it lives. It normally has a brown or greenish brown back, golden yellow flanks, a white belly and reddish fins, often with small dark spots. It can reach maximum dimensions of 70-80 cm and a weight of 5-6 kg, although in the waters of Lake Garda and the River Mincio average catches are around 2-3 kg. This fish prefers to live on rocky or gravelly bottoms in cool, well-oxygenated waters, concentrating near the mouths of tributaries and the beginnings of outfalls, where the current is slightly sustained. It was once particularly common in Lake Garda, especially near the river Mincio, but today its presence is declining. It feeds at night, forming small shoals, with a diet consisting mainly of larvae, small worms, molluscs and crustaceans. Spawning takes place between May and July on shallow waters, mainly at night or early in the morning. Although it has no economic value in professional fishing, the barbel is highly valued in sport fishing due to its vitality. The meat has many fishbones and is not of high quality, while the eggs are toxic if ingested, representing a risk to be avoided.

Burbot (Lota lota)

Dialectal names: bosa, bottatris, bottris, stringa.

The burbot is a fish with a cylindrical body at the front and flattened towards the tail, a broad head, tiny mucus-covered scales and a wide mouth with numerous teeth. It has a barbel in the centre of the jaw, while the colouration varies between grey, yellow and brown, with a whitish belly. The maximum size of this fish in the waters of Lake Garda is around 60 cm and 3-4 kg in weight, but in its native countries it can reach up to 1.5 metres in length and 25-30 kg in weight. The burbot is the only freshwater gadid and belongs to the same family as cod and hake. Native to northern Asia, North America and Canada, the burbot was introduced to Italy in the late 19th and early 20th century. It lives in deep waters, hunting at night and feeding on larvae, molluscs, crustaceans, fish and dead animals. It breeds during the winter period with a peculiar behaviour. The male and female secrete a mucus that unites them during mating and the numerous eggs generated are often eaten by the male. Although in other countries its eggs are used as caviar, in Lake Garda the burbot does not arouse economic interest and catches occur by chance. It is not considered relevant by professional fishermen, although its meat, with few bones, has a pleasant taste.

Freshwater blenny (Salaria fluviatilis)

Dialectal names: cagnetta, càn, màgnara, bavosa di fiume.

The freshwater blenny is a small fish with an elongated body, rounded on the belly and compressed laterally, almost scaleless and covered with a layer of mucus. It has a large, oblique head, a fleshy mouth with well-developed teeth, including two prominent canines, and well-developed fins. Males are distinguished by a very pronounced dorsal crest and larger size than females. The colouration varies from green with brown or yellow shades on the back to yellowish white on the belly, with dark spots arranged in vertical bands. It reaches a maximum size of 8-12 cm. The preferred habitat of this fish is the shallow gravel beds near the banks, where it leads a rather static life. It vigorously defends its territory, often a burrow under a rock, even going so far as to bite the feet of swimmers invading its territory. Its diet consists mainly of bottom-feeding invertebrates, but may also include small fry. Reproduction takes place between May and July, when the males take on a darker colouring and the females a lighter one. After an initial courtship, the eggs are laid in the male's burrow, which protects them until hatching, usually after 10-15 days. Due to the poor quality of its meat, the freshwater blenny has no economic interest in either professional or sport fishing.

Crucian carp (Carassius carassius)

Dialectal names: bastardo, goba, pèss ross.

The crucian carp is a cyprinid with a robust, stocky body, a noticeable hump above the head, a short snout and a small mouth. The scales are large and the body colour varies. The back is dark, the flanks yellowish with bronze highlights and the belly light, while the dorsal and caudal fins are brown with reddish highlights. This fish can form hybrids with carp, reaching a maximum length of 45 cm and a weight of 3-4 kg, although in Lake Garda and the River Mincio it generally does not exceed 1.5 kg in weight. Widespread in Europe and north-central Asia, the crucian carp is an allochthonous species in Italy, introduced unintentionally in the mid-20th century. It prefers shallow waters rich in vegetation and mud, where it lives in groups, especially when young. In winter it slows down its metabolism and sinks to the bottom, entering a hibernation-like state. It feeds on algae, aquatic plants, larvae, plankton, insects and invertebrates. Reproduction takes place in June, in shallow waters rich in vegetation, where the female lays between 50,000 and 100,000 eggs per kilogram of weight, which are subsequently fertilised by the male. Due to the poor quality of its meat, which is rich in fishbones, crucian carp are not interesting for professional or sports fishing, except for fishing competitions.

Carp (Cyprinius carpio)

Dialectal names: goba, gobbo, balbar, bùlbero, balbe, reina.

The carp is a fish with a robust, slender, laterally compressed body, conical head and small mouth and eyes. The fleshy lips are equipped with two pairs of barbels useful for foraging. Colouration ranges from the greenish brown of the back to the golden or orange highlights of the flanks, while the fins are greenish-grey or reddish. It can reach 130 cm in length and 30 kg in weight, but in Lake Garda it is smaller, weighing around 10-15 kg. Originally from northern and eastern Asia, the carp was probably introduced to Italy in Roman times. It usually prefers the southern part of Lake Garda and the river Mincio. It lives in muddy bottoms rich in vegetation, where during the winter period it slows down its metabolism as if hibernating. Gregarious especially when young, the carp has nocturnal eating habits and feeds on invertebrates, molluscs, crustaceans, worms, algae and fish eggs. Reproduction occurs between May and July when the female lays between 100,000 and 200,000 eggs per kilogram of weight, which hatch after 5-6 days. Of little interest for professional fishing, it is, on the other hand, highly sought after in recreational fishing. Its meat has a good flavour, but requires lengthy processing to eliminate the muddy aftertaste.

Carpione (Salmo carpio)

Dialectal names: carpion, carpiun, carpioun, carpiò, carpiù.

The carpione is the most prized fish of Lake Garda and has a pot-bellied belly, small scales and well-developed fins. The back is grey, the sides silver with “X” shaped spots and the belly is white. Similar to trout, the carp is difficult to recognise, especially when young. The males take on a dark colouration during the breeding season, while the females keep the same livery all year round. It reaches a maximum length of 50 cm and a weight of about 1 kg. Endemic to Lake Garda, carpione was appreciated and eaten on aristocratic tables since Roman times, suffering a sharp decline from the second half of the 20th century due to intensive fishing. It lives in the deep waters of the northern part of the lake, moving according to its dietary needs, which include plankton, small fish and eggs. Spawning takes place between December and February on the western side of the lake and in summer from July to August between the Sirmione peninsula and Punta San Vigilio in Garda. The carpione spawn on rocky bottoms at great depths. Fished professionally with nets and sportily with the tirlindana, this fish is much sought after for its delicate and exquisite meat. Today it is protected as it is very rare and at risk of extinction.

Chub (Leuciscus cephalus)

Dialectal names: cavassin, cavazzin, cavassino, cavéder, scaiàss, squào.

The chub is a fish with a robust, slender body, large black-edged scales and a large, slightly convex head. The mouth is toothless, while the lips are thick. Its colouring varies from dark back to silvery flanks with bronze highlights, while its belly is yellowish white. It reaches a maximum length of 80 cm and a weight of around 4 kg, although its average size is smaller. Widespread in Europe and autochthonous in Italy, the chub lives in both lake and running waters. In Lake Garda it is a very common fish and prefers the coastal strip with little current. It behaves gregariously when young and solitarily as an adult. It frequents both shallow and deep layers, especially in winter, never exceeding a depth of 40-50 metres. Its diet is omnivorous, including insects, larvae, small fish and vegetables, often finding food near drains and watercourses. Spawning occurs between the months of May and July, with females laying their eggs at night on gravel bottoms or among vegetation. Although the chub has no economic value in professional fishing, this fish is prized by sport fishermen for its combativeness. Its meat is good, but rich in fishbones.

Lavarello (Coregonus lavaretus)

Dialectal names: lavarel, lavarèll, lavarètt, coregon, coregoo.

The lavarello is a fish with an elongated, laterally compressed body, small head and mouth and well-developed fins. The scales are medium-sized, and there is an adipose fin at the base of the caudal peduncle. The colouration of the back is dark, the sides are silvery and the belly is pale. It rarely reaches 2 kg in Lake Garda, although it can reach up to 6 kg in other areas. During breeding, females take on a lighter colouring. Allocthonous in Italy, the lavarello was introduced into Lake Garda at the beginning of the 20th century. This species is gregarious and lives mainly in deep water, except in winter, when it moves to shallower waters. In Lake Garda this fish is still widespread, thanks to continuous repopulation. It feeds exclusively on plankton and competes with other lake species. Spawning takes place in winter, from December to January, on shallow waters near the shore or in the lower stretches of tributary rivers. Females lay viscous eggs that adhere to the bottom and hatch in about 60 days. Fishing for lavarello is a significant economic resource and practised all year round. Its white, lean meat is easily digestible, low in fishbones and therefore highly valued for its quality.

Pike (Exos lucius)

Dialectal names: lusso, lussio, luzo, lusc, luss, loess, löss.

The pike has a tapered body with a large, pointed head, similar to a duck's beak. Its mouth is large, with around 700 teeth, making it an efficient predator. The scales are small, the colouration of the back is dark green, the sides yellowish green with irregular spots and the belly light. The fins take on yellowish-orange or reddish shades with dark streaks. It reaches considerable size, exceeding 1.5 metres in length and 25 kg in weight, especially in females. The pike is indigenous to Italy and can be found in lakes, ponds and watercourses with shallow water rich in vegetation. This fish is territorial, but also a voracious predator capable of hunting fish, amphibians, small mammals and water birds. It exploits its camouflage and speed for lightning-fast but short attacks, characteristic of its hunting style. Reproduction takes place between February and April, with females spawning in vegetation-rich bottoms. The pike is highly valued in both professional and sport fishing for its white, compact and very tasty meat.

European perch (Perca fluviatilis)

Dialectal names: péss pérsech.

The European perch has an elongated body, laterally compressed and with an arched back. The head is short and rounded, the mouth wide and equipped with numerous teeth. It has two dorsal fins, one with pointed rays and one with soft rays. Its colouring varies depending on the environment, but it generally has a dark green back, greyish flanks with darker streaks and fins ranging in colour from grey to orange-red. Maximum size is around 35 cm in length and 2 kg in weight, with an average size of 6-7 kg. Widespread in Europe and Asia, this fish was introduced into Lake Garda at the beginning of the 20th century. The population is subject to variations, alternating years of abundance with periods of decline. It prefers rocky bottoms, but also lives in vegetation-rich bottoms. Juveniles are gregarious, while adults have a more solitary behaviour. The European perch is sedentary, moving only if the environment in which it lives is poor in food or unsuitable for reproduction. Its diet, typical of a predator, consists of invertebrates, crustaceans and fish. Reproduction takes place in spring, between April and May, when the female lays her eggs on rocks or submerged plants.

Pumpkinseed (Lepomis gibbosus)

Dialectal names: pesce sòl, sòl, oràda.

The pumpkinseed has an oval, laterally compressed body, a short head and an oblique mouth with tiny teeth. This fish is known for its bright colouring, green back, yellowish sides with red and blue highlights and orange-yellow fins. It normally does not exceed 20 cm in length with rare cases of 30 cm. Native to North America, the pumpkinseed was introduced to Italy at the beginning of the 20th century and in Lake Garda it is mainly found in the southern part. This species is gregarious when young, becoming solitary in adulthood. It lives in shallow waters rich in vegetation and with sandy bottoms. Its diet is varied and includes larvae, insects, worms, fish eggs and small fish. It spawns between May and June in shallow waters near the shore, where the male protects the eggs until ten days after hatching. The pumpkinseed is not of interest for professional fishing, but it is a species that is widespread in Lake Garda. Its meat is fair, but rich in flesh bones. The smaller specimens are especially appreciated for frying.

Largemouth bass (Micropterus salmoides)

Dialectal names: branzino, boccalone, bass.

The largemouth bass has an elongated, massive and slightly laterally compressed body with a developed head that occupies about 30% of the body length. The mouth is very wide, slightly oblique and equipped with small teeth. The back and flanks are dark green, while the belly has lighter shades. Juveniles have a black colouration on the flanks that turns into irregular spots with age. The fins are well developed with a dorsal split between pointed and soft rays. It can exceed 10 kg in its native habitat, but in the waters of Lake Garda it does not weigh more than 3-4 kg. Originally from North America, the largemouth bass was introduced into Europe at the end of the 19th century and has been present in Lake Garda for over a century. It lives in shallow waters rich in vegetation, preferring to live in shoals that adopt group hunting strategies, becoming solitary only as adults or during reproduction. Today, the number of specimens has decreased, but remains stable. The largemouth bass is voracious, feeding on small fish, crustaceans, insects, larvae, invertebrates and amphibians. Its varied diet and ability to adapt make it a skilful predator capable of making the most of the resources in its environment.

Catfish (Ictalurus melas)

Dialectal names: pese gato, pes gat.

The catfish has a cylindrical body in the front and is compressed laterally in the back with a large, flattened head. The skin, without scales, is covered with mucus and has a colour that goes from greenish-black on the back to yellowish-white on the belly. It has four pairs of barbels, which give it an extraordinary sense of smell, and spines on its dorsal and lateral fins. Its average length is between 20 and 30 centimetres. Native to North America, the catfish was introduced in Italy at the beginning of the 20th century. The absence of natural enemies has damaged native species, such as the tench, while the pike avoids preying on it because of the spines. It lives in the muddy bottoms of stagnant waters and burrows into holes during the winter, reducing its vital activity to a minimum. It feeds on small fish, eggs, larvae, tadpoles and molluscs, hunting mainly at night or on cloudy days. Reproduction takes place at the end of spring with both parents defending and oxygenating the eggs until after hatching. The fry are gregarious and easily recognisable by their black colour, while adults tend to be solitary. Catfish meat is of good quality.

Wels catfish (Silurus glanis)

Dialectal names: siluro

The wels catfish has a cylindrical body that tapers towards the tail, with a large, flattened head, small eyes and a wide mouth with numerous teeth and barbels. Its colour varies according to the environment: it has a dark back, whitish-yellow sides and a light belly, while the body, which has no scales, is covered with mucus. It can grow to an enormous size, exceeding 2 metres in length and 100 kg in weight. The wels catfish lives in muddy bottoms with vegetation, where it hides during the day to hunt at night, often near the surface. Also present in Lake Garda, it is a voracious predator. As a young fish it feeds on invertebrates, while as an adult it feeds on fish, amphibians, rodents and water birds. Its voracity has inspired legends about attacks on large mammals and humans, but these have not been documented. Reproduction takes place at the end of spring when the males fertilise the eggs and ensure their oxygenation. The wels catfish is appreciated in sport fishing for its considerable size, but its meat is not of great commercial importance.

Rudd (Scardinius erythrophthalmus)

Dialectal names: scàrdoa, scàrdeva, scardevèll, scardaèll.

The rudd is a fish with a stocky body, compressed laterally, characterised by a small head and an oblique mouth. Its colour varies with age and young specimens have red fins, while adults have dark grey tones with red shades. This fish reaches a maximum length of 35-40 cm and a weight of about 1 kg. Widespread in Europe and Western Asia, the rudd is a native species in Italy and is particularly common in Lake Garda, especially in the southern area and in the Mincio river. It lives in groups and mainly in shallow waters with muddy bottoms or near reed beds. Its diet includes plankton, small insects, crustaceans, molluscs, algae and aquatic plants. The reproduction period of the rudd is between the months of May and August, with the females laying up to 200,000 eggs per kilogram of weight on shallow sea beds or aquatic vegetation. The eggs hatch in 3-10 days, depending on the water temperature. The rudd has no commercial or culinary value, as its bony flesh is not very popular.

Tench (Tinca tinca)

Dialectal names: tenca, tènca, tencòn, tenchèll, tenchèi.

The tench is a fish with an imposing oval body covered in mucus, with small scales and a mouth characterised by a short barbel on the sides. Its colouring varies from brown on the back with green and golden reflections on the sides, to an orange-yellow belly. Adult males can be recognised by their larger ventral fins. It can reach a considerable size, up to 60 cm in length and a weight of 6-7 kg. This species is native to Italy and is also widely present in Europe and can be found in many lakes, although its presence in Lake Garda has decreased in recent years. The tench lives on muddy bottoms rich in vegetation, being more active in the summer months, while in winter it goes into a state of hibernation. Its diet consists mainly of insect larvae, molluscs, algae and aquatic plants. This fish reproduces in the months between May and July, depositing numerous eggs on aquatic plants. The tench has a good-tasting meat that is soft and slightly fatty.

Lake trout (Salmo trutta lacustris)

Dialectal names: truta, truta bianca, truta lacustre.

The lake trout is a fish with an elongated, slender body, small scales and a rather large head. Its mouth, full of teeth, is slightly upturned. Its colour varies from the dark grey of the back to the white of the belly, with silvery sides dotted with black spots. During mating, the males develop a darker appearance in the lower part of the body. This fish can reach a considerable size, weighing up to 10 kg and measuring 40-50 cm in length. The lake trout is present in all large lakes, but is considered an endangered species due to competition for food with other species. In Lake Garda, its presence has decreased over time and in recent years the brown and rainbow types have also been introduced. This fish prefers to live alone and far from the shore, travelling long distances in search of cold water. It is a carnivorous fish, initially feeding on invertebrates and later on small fish. Reproduction takes place between the months of October and January, when the female lays her eggs on the gravelly sea bed. In the past it was important for commercial fishing, while in sport fishing it is caught with the tirlindana technique. Its prized meat, with very few fishbones, is appreciated in cooking for its firm consistency and savoury taste.

Sources: Amici del Gondolin and Sub Club Peschiera