Perch · Perca fluviatilis

Perch in England's Rivers

The largest recorded measurement is 125.8 cm (49.5 in), from Linton-on-Ouse, below weir (single anode) in River Ouse on 4 August 1997.

Median length: 9 cm (3.5 in)
Fish measured: 373,399
Named waterways: 1,037
Latest observation: 23 Jul 2026

Direct individual measurements

Largest perch 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 OuseYorkshire and North East	125.8 cm (49.5 in)	13.8 cm (5.4 in)	1,960	4 Aug 1997Linton-on-Ouse, below weir (single anode)
2	River UreYorkshire and North East	71.7 cm (28.2 in)	14.2 cm (5.6 in)	1,580	18 Jul 2002Aldwark Bridge (single anode)
3	River BlytheMidlands	69 cm (27.2 in)	15.1 cm (5.9 in)	883	5 Feb 1997Molands Bridge
4	River AireYorkshire and North East	69 cm (27.2 in)	11.6 cm (4.6 in)	868	22 Jul 2003Silsden Bridge
5	River WharfeYorkshire and North East	63.5 cm (25 in)	14.5 cm (5.7 in)	827	2 Jul 2008Castley
6	River CraySouth East	54 cm (21.3 in)	13.7 cm (5.4 in)	286	19 Jun 2007Maiden Lane
7	River ThamesSouth East	53 cm (20.9 in)	14.1 cm (5.6 in)	8,592	26 Jun 2002Roundhouse to St Johns(mid-river)
8	River Brett (Main Reaches)Anglian	51 cm (20.1 in)	12 cm (4.7 in)	1,685	14 Dec 1984Semer A
9	River Brampton BranchAnglian	50 cm (19.7 in)	17.8 cm (7 in)	120	23 Sept 1998Bugbrooke Mill
10	River Temple - MarlowSouth East	49.7 cm (19.6 in)	15.4 cm (6.1 in)	556	6 Sept 2004Temple Main

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

373,399 fish measured

Measured perch lengths

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

0–19 mm

20–39 mm

2535

40–59 mm

36352

60–79 mm

105164

80–99 mm

68906

100–119 mm

46130

120–139 mm

35553

140–159 mm

25067

160–179 mm

16777

180–199 mm

11234

200–219 mm

7709

220–239 mm

5140

240–259 mm

3575

260–279 mm

2483

280–299 mm

1824

300–319 mm

1468

320–339 mm

1225

340–359 mm

967

360–379 mm

616

380–399 mm

403

400–419 mm

161

420–439 mm

440–459 mm

460–479 mm

480–499 mm

500–519 mm

520–539 mm

540–559 mm

560–579 mm

580–599 mm

600–619 mm

620–639 mm

640–659 mm

660–679 mm

680–699 mm

700–719 mm

1240–1259 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 perch observations

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

Date	River or waterway	Survey location	Fish recorded
23 Jul 2026	River Weaver	Wewe25	8
23 Jul 2026	River Lee	Amwell Loop	89
22 Jul 2026	River Darent	Twitton Brook	2
21 Jul 2026	River Medway	Sovereign Way Tonbridge	1
21 Jul 2026	River Colne	Uxbridge	45
16 Jul 2026	River Medway	Golden Green	1
16 Jul 2026	River Colne	Watford M1 link road	4
15 Jul 2026	Saredon Brook	US Canal Feeder	8
15 Jul 2026	River Medway	Tovil	3
14 Jul 2026	River Stour	Tendring Hall	1

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

18,277 positive survey visits

Survey distribution

EA surveys recorded perch at 4,747 locations across 1,037 named waterways represented on RiverFish.

Region	Waterways	Locations	Survey visits	Latest record
Anglian	288	1,811	7,868	14 Jul 2026
South East	274	1,191	5,160	23 Jul 2026
Midlands	178	814	2,334	15 Jul 2026
South West	117	278	735	9 Jun 2026
North West	99	277	592	23 Jul 2026
Yorkshire and North East	81	376	1,588	2 Jul 2026

580 detailed pages

Perch by river

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

Anglian 206 pages

Midlands 80 pages

North West 34 pages

South East 164 pages

South West 50 pages

Yorkshire and North East 46 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 perch.

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 →