Magikarp was once the focus of arguments about the nature of intelligence and what Pokémon are acceptable to eat. The controversy died out and never settled; Magikarp taste terrible.

Both Magikarp and Gyarados will always bite a fishing line, even if it doesn’t have bait. Fishermen say that Magikarp is too dull to understand the problem, but Gyarados knows exactly what is on the other end.