Coarse Fish Species Guide

The barbel is a slim, elegant fish which is surprisingly powerful, it is found almost exclusively in rivers and a member of the carp family. It has a grey coloured back with bronze flanks and a pearl coloured lower half. It is easy to identify from the four barbels on its face – one in each corner of its…

Name:
Silver Bream (Blicca bjoerkna)
Common Bream (Abramis brama)

Average Weight:
The Silver Bream is the smaller of the two, under normal conditions it has a maximum size of just 450g

Name:
Common Carp (Cyprinus carpio)

Mirror and Leather Carp are both sub-species, and whilst they differ in appearance, they are still classified as the same species – Cyprinus carpio
Average Weight:

Name:
Catfish (Silurus glanis)

Average Weight:
The wels catfish is the largest true freshwater fish, under perfect conditions in Europe it can reach unbelievable sizes of up to 5 metres in length and weight over…

Name:
Chub (Leuciscus cephalus)

Average Weight:
A decent sized chub is anything between 3lb and 5lb (1.4-2.3kg) and will provide a swashbuckling fight. Chub caught during the winter make for an even better tussle…

Name:
Crucian Carp (Carassius carassius)

Average Weight:
In the UK, crucian carp usually weigh between 6 ounces and 1lb 8 ounces (160-810g) and grow between 6-12 inches (15-30cm) in length…

Name:
Dace (Leuciscus leuciscus)

Average Weight:
Dace typically weigh between 2-6oz (0.05-0.15kg) and grow to an average length of between 4-6 inches (10-15cm). In optimal conditions, they can reach sizes of 2.2lb (1kg)…

Name:
Eel (Anguilla anguilla)

Average Weight:
The average length of an adult eel in the UK is between 20-30 inches (60-80cm) with an average weight of between 2.2-4.4lbs (1-2 kg).

The females grow larger…

Name:
Grass Carp (Ctenopharyngodon idella)

Average Weight:
In the UK, the average grass carp weighs between 8-20lbs (3.5-9.0kg).

Also known as:
White Amur

Name:
Grayling (Thymallus thymallus)

Average Weight:
Under optimal conditions, grayling can grow to impressive weights, with some going above 4lbs (1.6kg).

In the UK the average…

Name:
Gudgeon (Gobio gobio)

Average Weight:
An average gudgeon weighs between 1-2oz (30-60g) and is between 3-4 inches (7-12cm) in length. Anything above 2oz (60g) would be considered an impressive specimen…

Name:
Perch (Perca fluviatilis)

Average Weight:
In the UK, perch normally grow to between 4-10 inches (12-25cm) in length and weigh between 4-12oz (250-750g). A perch weighing 1lb (0.45kg) would be considered a very decent catch…

Name:
Pike (Esox lucius)

Average Weight:
Pike caught in the UK usually weigh between 5-11lbs, and have an average length of 22-35 inches (55-85cm). However, they live for many years and continue to grow throughout…

Name:
Roach (Rutilus rutilus)

Average Weight:
Roach do not reach the large sizes attained by other coarse fish, a fish of 2lbs (0.9kg) would be considered a fantastic specimen.

Also known as:
Common Roach and Red Fin

Name:
Rudd (Scardinius erythrophthalmus)

Average Weight:
In the UK, rudd usually weigh between 2-8oz (50-200g).

IUCN Status:
LC – Least Concern

Name:
Ruffe (Gymnocephalus cernua)

Average Weight:
In the UK, ruffe typically grow to 3-4 inches (7.5-12cm) in length and weigh between 1.5-3oz (30-60g).

Also known as:
Pope

Name:
Tench (Tinca tinca)

Average Weight:
In the UK, tench typically grow between 16-28 inches (40-70cm) in length, and weigh between 2-5lbs (1-2kg).
In Europe however, tench can grow to impressive sizes of over…

Name:
Zander (Stizostedion lucioperca)

Average Weight:
In the UK, the average zander weighs around 8lbs (3.6kg) and is between 65-90cm (25-35 inches) in length. A small zander found in a shoal will weigh 1-3lbs…