Barbel · Barbus barbus

Barbel in England's Rivers

The largest recorded measurement is 88.5 cm (34.8 in), from Westwick in River Ure on 17 July 2006.

Median length: 22.2 cm (8.7 in)
Fish measured: 18,316
Named waterways: 186
Latest observation: 23 Jul 2026

Direct individual measurements

Largest barbel by waterway

Ranked by the largest individual measured in EA surveys. The sample size shows how many valid length measurements underpin each waterway's figures.

Rank	River or waterway	Largest	Median	Measured	Measured at
1	River UreYorkshire and North East	88.5 cm (34.8 in)	9.3 cm (3.7 in)	474	17 Jul 2006Westwick
2	River Wensum (central)Anglian	85 cm (33.5 in)	62.3 cm (24.5 in)	49	10 Oct 2003Hellesdon Road (Albert's)
3	River Boulters - BraySouth East	84.7 cm (33.3 in)	59.4 cm (23.4 in)	57	7 Sept 2004Boulters - Bray, Main Channel
4	River IvelAnglian	82.5 cm (32.5 in)	57.8 cm (22.8 in)	134	4 Jun 2013DS Iron Bridge
5	River TrentMidlands	81.3 cm (32 in)	10.8 cm (4.3 in)	287	13 Oct 2009Wolseley Brg to Highbridge post pollution Oct 09
6	River ThamesSouth East	80.5 cm (31.7 in)	53.7 cm (21.1 in)	575	15 Jul 2025Abingdon Weirpool
7	River Upper OuseAnglian	80.5 cm (31.7 in)	42.9 cm (16.9 in)	405	31 May 2002Mill Farm Gayhurst
8	River OuseSouth East	80 cm (31.5 in)	46.5 cm (18.3 in)	48	12 Sept 2017Sheffield Bridge
9	River KennetSouth East	79.5 cm (31.3 in)	53.8 cm (21.2 in)	842	12 Nov 2024Burghfield
10	River Wensum (Barbel)Anglian	78 cm (30.7 in)	19.7 cm (7.8 in)	408	24 Oct 2006Lenwade Bridge

Equal maximum lengths are ordered by sample size. Measurements are shown as recorded and are not converted into estimated weights.

18,316 fish measured

Measured barbel lengths

The median divides the measured sample in half. This distribution describes surveyed fish, not every barbel living in England.

0–19 mm

20–39 mm

2219

40–59 mm

1062

60–79 mm

824

80–99 mm

937

100–119 mm

828

120–139 mm

651

140–159 mm

643

160–179 mm

679

180–199 mm

610

200–219 mm

577

220–239 mm

480

240–259 mm

417

260–279 mm

373

280–299 mm

277

300–319 mm

288

320–339 mm

232

340–359 mm

256

360–379 mm

339

380–399 mm

274

400–419 mm

326

420–439 mm

357

440–459 mm

399

460–479 mm

521

480–499 mm

518

500–519 mm

561

520–539 mm

568

540–559 mm

564

560–579 mm

488

580–599 mm

405

600–619 mm

338

620–639 mm

303

640–659 mm

288

660–679 mm

211

680–699 mm

181

700–719 mm

720–739 mm

740–759 mm

760–779 mm

780–799 mm

800–819 mm

820–839 mm

840–859 mm

880–899 mm

Only positive individual lengths that pass RiverFish's general measurement checks are included. Each bar covers a 20 mm range.

Latest EA evidence

Latest barbel observations

The ten most recent survey visits that recorded barbel in named waterways.

Date	River or waterway	Survey location	Fish recorded
23 Jul 2026	River Lee	Amwell Loop	2
21 Jul 2026	River Colne	Uxbridge	5
7 Jul 2026	River Lee	Fishers Green	2
2 Jul 2026	River Dearne	Darfield (expanded 2016)	4
15 Jun 2026	River Colne	Springwell Lane	10
9 Jun 2026	River Lee	Wheathampstead	66
2 Jun 2026	River Colnebrook	Wraysbury	1
28 May 2026	River Colne	Stanwell Moor	3
16 Oct 2025	River Medway	Penshurst	24
16 Oct 2025	River Thames	Hannington Bridge	2

A survey record confirms barbel at that place and time. It does not show present-day abundance or fishing access.

2,969 positive survey visits

Survey distribution

EA surveys recorded barbel at 829 locations across 186 named waterways represented on RiverFish.

Region	Waterways	Locations	Survey visits	Latest record
South East	81	297	1,214	23 Jul 2026
Midlands	46	233	583	29 Sept 2025
Anglian	21	86	275	27 Aug 2025
Yorkshire and North East	17	155	733	2 Jul 2026
North West	12	31	53	22 Jul 2025
South West	9	27	111	2 Oct 2025

105 detailed pages

Barbel by river

Open any river-specific page for its measured lengths, largest surveyed individuals, locations and observation history.

Anglian 9 pages

Lake Surveys4 locations · latest 2017 River Ivel10 locations · latest 2025 River Nene7 locations · latest 2024 River Ouzel3 locations · latest 2016 River Stour7 locations · latest 2010 River Upper Ouse19 locations · latest 2025 River Wensum (Barbel)10 locations · latest 2016 River Wensum (central)11 locations · latest 2013 River Witham4 locations · latest 2011

Midlands 23 pages

North West 5 pages

River Bollin4 locations · latest 2025 River Dane6 locations · latest 2023 River Etherow4 locations · latest 2006 River Goyt5 locations · latest 2009 River Ribble3 locations · latest 1994

South East 45 pages

South West 8 pages

Bickerley Mill Stream2 locations · latest 2022 Bristol Avon main river6 locations · latest 2024 Main Avon Sites22 locations · latest 2025 Main River Marden4 locations · latest 2011 Main river sites13 locations · latest 2025 River Avon (Hampshire)3 locations · latest 2025 River Avon Side Channels5 locations · latest 2014 River Main Somerset Frome3 locations · latest 2025

Yorkshire and North East 15 pages

How to read this page

Survey measurements, not angling records

Environment Agency surveys are designed to monitor fish populations. Their largest measurement is not equivalent to a verified rod-and-line record, and the survey sample does not include every river or every barbel.

Waterway groups with administrative or mixed-river labels are excluded from the headline national totals and rankings. Their eligible river-specific pages remain available in the directory so no published destination is hidden.

The fish records use the Environment Agency source snapshot dated 10 August 2026.

How RiverFish handles the data →