Direct individual measurements
Largest common carp 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 Romney - Old WindsorSouth East | 91.5 cm (36 in) | 77.8 cm (30.6 in) | 2 | 9 Sept 2009Upstream Datchet Intake |
| 2 | River Marlow - CookhamSouth East | 89 cm (35 in) | 68.4 cm (26.9 in) | 8 | 31 Aug 2005Marlow - Cookham Upper Main Channel |
| 3 | Lee NavigationSouth East | 81.6 cm (32.1 in) | 62.7 cm (24.7 in) | 34 | 30 Aug 2006Ponders End |
| 4 | River NeneAnglian | 80.5 cm (31.7 in) | 45.2 cm (17.8 in) | 28 | 15 Aug 2007Ferry Meadows |
| 5 | River Bell - Penton HookSouth East | 80.5 cm (31.7 in) | 62.8 cm (24.7 in) | 10 | 30 Jul 2025Bell Upper Main |
| 6 | River ChelmerAnglian | 80.3 cm (31.6 in) | 47.5 cm (18.7 in) | 223 | 10 Jun 2013Downstream Ricketts Lock |
| 7 | River Sunbury - MoleseySouth East | 79.7 cm (31.4 in) | 64.3 cm (25.3 in) | 11 | 16 Sept 2019Sunbury Main Channel |
| 8 | River StourAnglian | 79.6 cm (31.3 in) | 56.7 cm (22.3 in) | 102 | 24 Jul 2006Wiston Mill |
| 9 | River Shepperton - SunburySouth East | 79.5 cm (31.3 in) | 63.5 cm (25 in) | 40 | 12 Sept 2007Shepperton Weir stream |
| 10 | River KingstonSouth East | 79.5 cm (31.3 in) | 64.1 cm (25.2 in) | 6 | 14 Sept 2007Downstream Kingston Bridge |
Equal maximum lengths are ordered by sample size. Measurements are shown as recorded and are not converted into estimated weights.
14,516 fish measured
Measured common carp lengths
The median divides the measured sample in half. This distribution describes surveyed fish, not every common carp living in England.
20–39 mm
29
40–59 mm
357
60–79 mm
294
80–99 mm
228
100–119 mm
232
120–139 mm
234
140–159 mm
323
160–179 mm
489
180–199 mm
494
200–219 mm
540
220–239 mm
537
240–259 mm
532
260–279 mm
573
280–299 mm
705
300–319 mm
700
320–339 mm
611
340–359 mm
645
360–379 mm
682
380–399 mm
697
400–419 mm
611
420–439 mm
589
440–459 mm
583
460–479 mm
549
480–499 mm
603
500–519 mm
569
520–539 mm
449
540–559 mm
369
560–579 mm
325
580–599 mm
230
600–619 mm
222
620–639 mm
139
640–659 mm
111
660–679 mm
82
680–699 mm
63
700–719 mm
49
720–739 mm
38
740–759 mm
11
760–779 mm
9
780–799 mm
7
800–819 mm
4
880–899 mm
1
900–919 mm
1
Only positive individual lengths that pass RiverFish's general measurement checks are included. Each bar covers a 20 mm range.
Latest EA evidence
Latest common carp observations
The ten most recent survey visits that recorded common carp in named waterways.
| Date | River or waterway | Survey location | Fish recorded |
|---|---|---|---|
| 15 Jul 2026 | River Medway | Teston | 5 |
| 7 Jul 2026 | River Lee | Fishers Green | 1 |
| 7 May 2026 | Cowfold Stream | Sheepfield Shaw | 2 |
| 30 Apr 2026 | River Wantsum | Wantsum AC car park | 2 |
| 29 Oct 2025 | Great Breach Dyke | Great Breach Site 1 | 13 |
| 21 Oct 2025 | River Arun | Stopham Bridge | 1 |
| 1 Oct 2025 | River Wandle | Sainsburys Merton | 1 |
| 30 Sept 2025 | River Wandle | Ravensbury Park | 1 |
| 16 Sept 2025 | Lee Navigation | Upstream Carthagena Lock | 2 |
| 28 Aug 2025 | River Medway | Yalding Leas | 1 |
A survey record confirms common carp at that place and time. It does not show present-day abundance or fishing access.
1,527 positive survey visits
Survey distribution
EA surveys recorded common carp at 917 locations across 303 named waterways represented on RiverFish.
| Region | Waterways | Locations | Survey visits | Latest record |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| South East | 127 | 309 | 580 | 15 Jul 2026 |
| Anglian | 88 | 424 | 716 | 6 Jun 2025 |
| Midlands | 43 | 109 | 148 | 8 Mar 2022 |
| South West | 18 | 23 | 24 | 23 Nov 2017 |
| Yorkshire and North East | 15 | 26 | 33 | 17 Jun 2022 |
| North West | 12 | 26 | 26 | 14 Feb 2015 |
103 detailed pages
Common carp by river
Open any river-specific page for its measured lengths, largest surveyed individuals, locations and observation history.
Anglian 39 pages
Elmhurst Lake5 locations · latest 2002Grand Union Canal3 locations · latest 1993Holland Brook (Main Reaches)5 locations · latest 2014Lake Surveys18 locations · latest 2017Lincolnshire Lakes110 locations · latest 2009Little South Holland Drain5 locations · latest 2019Lower Glen3 locations · latest 2011Old West River3 locations · latest 2017R.Stour special sites6 locations · latest 2003Ramsey River4 locations · latest 2013River Blackwater19 locations · latest 2013River Brett (Main Reaches)6 locations · latest 1997River Chelmer31 locations · latest 2025River Colne11 locations · latest 2006River DS Cam3 locations · latest 2013River DS Lark3 locations · latest 2010River Ely Ouse4 locations · latest 2009River Flit3 locations · latest 2016River Gipping (Main Reaches)8 locations · latest 2009River Ivel7 locations · latest 2016River Mardyke5 locations · latest 2025River Middle Ouse7 locations · latest 2015River Nar4 locations · latest 2019River Nene19 locations · latest 2008River Ouzel4 locations · latest 2007River Pant (Main Reaches)7 locations · latest 2005River Soham Lode3 locations · latest 1993River Stour23 locations · latest 2006River Upper Ouse7 locations · latest 2009River US Lark6 locations · latest 2007River US Lt Ouse3 locations · latest 2001River Waveney (central)5 locations · latest 2003River Welland5 locations · latest 2014River Wensum (central)3 locations · latest 2009River Wid (Main Reaches)5 locations · latest 2002River Witham6 locations · latest 2009South Holland Main Drain10 locations · latest 2025Trader/Maud Foster Drain3 locations · latest 2010Willow Brook3 locations · latest 2012
Midlands 14 pages
River Alne3 locations · latest 2019River Anker3 locations · latest 2013River Arrow8 locations · latest 2012River Blythe3 locations · latest 2006River Leam3 locations · latest 2007River Leen3 locations · latest 2011River Severn3 locations · latest 2022River Soar4 locations · latest 2005River Stillwaters10 locations · latest 2017River Stour (Worcestershire)3 locations · latest 2016River Tame7 locations · latest 2014River Trent9 locations · latest 2009River Warwickshire Avon5 locations · latest 2001River Warwickshire Avon5 locations · latest 2016
North West 1 pages
South East 44 pages
Dandy's Lake4 locations · latest 2020Grand Union Canal5 locations · latest 2013Lee Navigation11 locations · latest 2025River Adur East Arm6 locations · latest 2024River Adur West Arm3 locations · latest 2014River Arborfield3 locations · latest 2008River Arun5 locations · latest 2025River Beam3 locations · latest 2018River Bell - Penton Hook4 locations · latest 2025River Beult5 locations · latest 2019River Boveney - Romney2 locations · latest 2016River Brent4 locations · latest 2024River Cherwell6 locations · latest 2018River Colne4 locations · latest 2024River Colnebrook3 locations · latest 2010River Cray3 locations · latest 2022River Darent3 locations · latest 2006River Flood Relief3 locations · latest 2009River Gade3 locations · latest 2013River Great Stour4 locations · latest 2024River Kennet8 locations · latest 2018River Lee17 locations · latest 2026River Len3 locations · latest 2023River Marlow - Cookham2 locations · latest 2009River Medina5 locations · latest 2021River Medway7 locations · latest 2026River Mole3 locations · latest 2017River Molesey - Teddington3 locations · latest 2019River Old Windsor - Bell2 locations · latest 2014River Ouse4 locations · latest 2024River Roding3 locations · latest 2024River Romney - Old Windsor3 locations · latest 2009River Shepperton - Sunbury3 locations · latest 2023River Stillwater Management3 locations · latest 2016River Sunbury - Molesey3 locations · latest 2019River Temple - Marlow2 locations · latest 2024River Test1 locations · latest 2006River Thames22 locations · latest 2025River Wallington3 locations · latest 2001River Wandle8 locations · latest 2025River Wantsum2 locations · latest 2026River Western Rother5 locations · latest 2019River Wey Combined3 locations · latest 2019River Wey North3 locations · latest 2008
Yorkshire and North East 3 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 common carp.
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 →