Direct individual measurements
Largest blue orfe 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 | Beverley and Barmston DrainYorkshire and North East | 52 cm (20.5 in) | 45.1 cm (17.8 in) | 63 | 11 Oct 2004Beverley and Barmston Drain at Top hill Low |
| 2 | River HullYorkshire and North East | 48.7 cm (19.2 in) | 39.3 cm (15.5 in) | 9 | 9 Jun 2025Wilfholme Landing HULLCRS/(LOWER)2 |
| 3 | River ThamesSouth East | 45 cm (17.7 in) | 45 cm (17.7 in) | 1 | 15 Jul 2004Cleeve - Goring (Weirpool) |
| 4 | River Scout DikeYorkshire and North East | 44.8 cm (17.6 in) | 44.1 cm (17.4 in) | 3 | 6 Sept 2011Downstream B6462 |
| 5 | River DearneYorkshire and North East | 42.8 cm (16.9 in) | 29.6 cm (11.7 in) | 7 | 20 Jun 2011Darfield (Top Weir) |
| 6 | River AireYorkshire and North East | 41.6 cm (16.4 in) | 41.6 cm (16.4 in) | 1 | 24 Jun 2008Thwaite Weir |
| 7 | River Ember FASSouth East | 39.5 cm (15.6 in) | 39.5 cm (15.6 in) | 1 | 9 Oct 2009Below Island Barn Weir |
| 8 | River ColeMidlands | 39.1 cm (15.4 in) | 39.1 cm (15.4 in) | 1 | 14 Aug 2018Sarehole Mill, Springfield. |
| 9 | River DonYorkshire and North East | 37 cm (14.6 in) | 30.9 cm (12.2 in) | 2 | 9 Aug 2007Blackburn Meadows d/s weir DON/CO/TEMP/001 |
| 10 | River BeaneSouth East | 36.5 cm (14.4 in) | 36.5 cm (14.4 in) | 1 | 29 Oct 2003Hertford North |
Equal maximum lengths are ordered by sample size. Measurements are shown as recorded and are not converted into estimated weights.
175 fish measured
Measured blue orfe lengths
The median divides the measured sample in half. This distribution describes surveyed fish, not every blue orfe living in England.
Only positive individual lengths that pass RiverFish's general measurement checks are included. Each bar covers a 20 mm range.
Latest EA evidence
Latest blue orfe observations
The ten most recent survey visits that recorded blue orfe in named waterways.
| Date | River or waterway | Survey location | Fish recorded |
|---|---|---|---|
| 27 Jun 2025 | Bow Lake | Bow Lake Fish Farm Upper | 1 |
| 9 Jun 2025 | River Hull | Wilfholme Landing HULLCRS/(LOWER)2 | 1 |
| 14 Aug 2018 | River Cole | Sarehole Mill, Springfield. | 1 |
| 7 Sept 2017 | River Scout Dike | Downstream B6462 | 2 |
| 28 Sept 2016 | Beverley and Barmston Drain | Beverley and Barmston Drain at Top hill Low | 4 |
| 14 Sept 2015 | Ewden Beck | Downstream Morehall Res (WR) | 1 |
| 31 Jul 2014 | Bow Lake | Bow lake fish farm | 2 |
| 19 Jun 2014 | River Dearne | Darfield (expanded 2016) | 1 |
| 9 Sept 2013 | River Hull | Wilfholme Landing HULLCRS/(LOWER)2 | 1 |
| 7 Oct 2012 | River Hull | Upstream weel angling | 1 |
A survey record confirms blue orfe at that place and time. It does not show present-day abundance or fishing access.
53 positive survey visits
Survey distribution
EA surveys recorded blue orfe at 42 locations across 28 named waterways represented on RiverFish.
| Region | Waterways | Locations | Survey visits | Latest record |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Yorkshire and North East | 10 | 15 | 23 | 9 Jun 2025 |
| Anglian | 7 | 13 | 15 | 23 Jan 2008 |
| South East | 6 | 9 | 10 | 27 Jun 2025 |
| Midlands | 2 | 2 | 2 | 14 Aug 2018 |
| North West | 2 | 2 | 2 | 26 Jun 2006 |
| South West | 1 | 1 | 1 | 21 May 1997 |
5 detailed pages
Blue orfe by river
Open any river-specific page for its measured lengths, largest surveyed individuals, locations and observation history.
Anglian 1 pages
South East 1 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 blue orfe.
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 →