Direct individual measurements
Largest ruffe 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 | 99.9 cm (39.3 in) | 7.3 cm (2.9 in) | 339 | 17 Jul 2003Hewick Bridge (Boom boat) |
| 2 | River WithamAnglian | 40.7 cm (16 in) | 8.3 cm (3.3 in) | 3,277 | 4 Jun 1998Short Ferry (Witham) |
| 3 | Lincolnshire LakesAnglian | 26 cm (10.2 in) | 7 cm (2.8 in) | 505 | 16 Feb 1987Iron & Steel A.C. Pond |
| 4 | River R.BainAnglian | 19.4 cm (7.6 in) | 9.8 cm (3.9 in) | 82 | 26 Apr 1988Harveys Bridge |
| 5 | River MardykeAnglian | 18.9 cm (7.4 in) | 15.5 cm (6.1 in) | 5 | 1 May 201314 Arches Bridge |
| 6 | River SevernMidlands | 18.6 cm (7.3 in) | 4.8 cm (1.9 in) | 427 | 16 Jul 1998Stourport 382 |
| 7 | River Gipping (Main Reaches)Anglian | 18.5 cm (7.3 in) | 9.9 cm (3.9 in) | 595 | 3 May 2006Sproughton Intake |
| 8 | River OuseYorkshire and North East | 18.5 cm (7.3 in) | 7.7 cm (3 in) | 352 | 23 Jul 1999Naburn Weir (boom boat site) |
| 9 | River WandleSouth East | 18.2 cm (7.2 in) | 9.8 cm (3.9 in) | 7 | 21 Jul 1988Hackbridge |
| 10 | River AlneMidlands | 18 cm (7.1 in) | 12.4 cm (4.9 in) | 27 | 6 Sept 1984Great Alne |
Equal maximum lengths are ordered by sample size. Measurements are shown as recorded and are not converted into estimated weights.
76,223 fish measured
Measured ruffe lengths
The median divides the measured sample in half. This distribution describes surveyed fish, not every ruffe living in England.
0–19 mm
59
20–39 mm
927
40–59 mm
14738
60–79 mm
25793
80–99 mm
24048
100–119 mm
8667
120–139 mm
1713
140–159 mm
242
160–179 mm
23
180–199 mm
9
240–259 mm
1
260–279 mm
1
400–419 mm
1
980–999 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 ruffe observations
The ten most recent survey visits that recorded ruffe in named waterways.
| Date | River or waterway | Survey location | Fish recorded |
|---|---|---|---|
| 23 Jul 2026 | River Weaver | Wewe25 | 1 |
| 21 Jul 2026 | River Medway | Sovereign Way Tonbridge | 1 |
| 15 Jul 2026 | River Medway | Teston | 1 |
| 9 Jun 2026 | River Burwell Lode | Burwell | 1 |
| 20 May 2026 | Swavesey Drain | US Webs Hole Sluice | 1 |
| 14 May 2026 | Well Creek | Salters Lode | 17 |
| 28 Apr 2026 | Twenty Foot Drain | Holloways Bridge | 3 |
| 16 Apr 2026 | River Great Ouse | DS Brownshill Staunch | 3 |
| 9 Apr 2026 | River Oxfordshire Ray | New River Ray - Oddington | 1 |
| 28 Jan 2026 | River Tidal Yare | Brundall boatyard | 1 |
A survey record confirms ruffe at that place and time. It does not show present-day abundance or fishing access.
4,197 positive survey visits
Survey distribution
EA surveys recorded ruffe at 1,354 locations across 333 named waterways represented on RiverFish.
| Region | Waterways | Locations | Survey visits | Latest record |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Anglian | 158 | 830 | 2,955 | 9 Jun 2026 |
| South East | 72 | 195 | 458 | 21 Jul 2026 |
| Midlands | 39 | 142 | 253 | 20 Sept 2024 |
| South West | 27 | 57 | 172 | 6 Aug 2025 |
| North West | 19 | 29 | 43 | 23 Jul 2026 |
| Yorkshire and North East | 18 | 101 | 316 | 24 Jul 2025 |
170 detailed pages
Ruffe by river
Open any river-specific page for its measured lengths, largest surveyed individuals, locations and observation history.
Anglian 97 pages
Barlings Eau3 locations · latest 2008Bellwater Drain3 locations · latest 2016Bevills Leam2 locations · latest 2017Bourne Eau3 locations · latest 2008C&B Navigation (Long Pond)3 locations · latest 2007Castle Dyke2 locations · latest 2016Counter Drain8 locations · latest 2023Cowbridge Drain2 locations · latest 2016Cut-Off Channel13 locations · latest 2023Fodder Dyke4 locations · latest 1996Forty Foot Drain6 locations · latest 2023Fossdyke Navigation Canal5 locations · latest 2017Frith Bank Drain2 locations · latest 2016Grand Union Canal16 locations · latest 1994Great Raveley Drain2 locations · latest 2023Hobhole Drain9 locations · latest 2019Kings Dyke4 locations · latest 2006Lincolnshire Lakes11 locations · latest 2001Louth Canal4 locations · latest 2015Lower Glen9 locations · latest 2011Maxey Cut2 locations · latest 2016Medlam Drain4 locations · latest 2016Middle Level Main Drain8 locations · latest 2023Moretons Leam8 locations · latest 2013Newham Drain3 locations · latest 2013Old West River8 locations · latest 2023Pophams Eau2 locations · latest 2017Relief Channel16 locations · latest 2017River Barton Broad15 locations · latest 2022River Barton Broad margin4 locations · latest 2000River Billinghay Skirth2 locations · latest 2014River Blackwater10 locations · latest 2011River Brampton Branch3 locations · latest 2018River Brett (Main Reaches)2 locations · latest 2018River Bure (central)12 locations · latest 2010River Burwell Lode3 locations · latest 2026River Chelmer13 locations · latest 2025River Delph9 locations · latest 2023River DS Cam11 locations · latest 2025River DS Lark10 locations · latest 2015River DS Lt Ouse10 locations · latest 2012River DS Wissey10 locations · latest 2007River Duston Branch3 locations · latest 2009River East Fen Catchwater6 locations · latest 2013River Ely Ouse10 locations · latest 2023River Filby Broad7 locations · latest 1997River Gipping (Main Reaches)3 locations · latest 2025River Great Ouse5 locations · latest 2026River Ivel8 locations · latest 2025River Lymn FMU1 locations · latest 2025River Middle Ouse37 locations · latest 2019River Monks Lode1 locations · latest 2017River Nar5 locations · latest 2014River Nene37 locations · latest 2015River Nene (Old Course)9 locations · latest 2023River Ormesby Broad8 locations · latest 1997River Oulton Broad4 locations · latest 1991River R.Ancholme Subcatchments20 locations · latest 2018River R.Bain5 locations · latest 1998River R.Brant2 locations · latest 2014River R.Slea7 locations · latest 2017River Ranworth Broad6 locations · latest 1999River Reach Lode2 locations · latest 2014River Rollesby Broad12 locations · latest 2004River Salhouse Broad4 locations · latest 1999River Soham Lode3 locations · latest 2014River South Walsham Broad6 locations · latest 2002River Steeping FMU12 locations · latest 2019River Stour39 locations · latest 2025River Tas3 locations · latest 2005River Thet3 locations · latest 1995River Thurne (Seine)4 locations · latest 1993River Tidal Ant6 locations · latest 2000River Tidal Bure7 locations · latest 2026River Tidal Waveney10 locations · latest 2015River Tidal Yare21 locations · latest 2026River Till (Lincs) Subcatchment3 locations · latest 2014River Timberland Delph2 locations · latest 2011River Tove7 locations · latest 1991River Upper Ouse26 locations · latest 2017River Waveney (central)10 locations · latest 2014River Welland17 locations · latest 2017River Wensum (central)13 locations · latest 2007River West Fen Catchwater6 locations · latest 2016River Witham27 locations · latest 2017River Wroxham Broad7 locations · latest 2005River Yare10 locations · latest 2023River Yaxley Lode3 locations · latest 2011Sincil Dyke4 locations · latest 2007Sixteen Foot Drain8 locations · latest 2011South Forty Foot Drain10 locations · latest 2016Trader/Maud Foster Drain5 locations · latest 2019Twenty Foot Drain6 locations · latest 2026Wainfleet Relief Channel (River Steeping)2 locations · latest 2016Well Creek7 locations · latest 2026West Fen Drain7 locations · latest 2016Whittlesey Dyke4 locations · latest 2023
Midlands 19 pages
Longdon Brook2 locations · latest 2018River Alne7 locations · latest 2019River Anker4 locations · latest 2014River Arrow6 locations · latest 2012River Blythe3 locations · latest 2018River Churnet3 locations · latest 2024River Derwent3 locations · latest 2018River Idle2 locations · latest 2017River Leam12 locations · latest 2018River Severn18 locations · latest 2022River Shrewsbury Town8 locations · latest 2013River Stillwaters3 locations · latest 2014River Stour7 locations · latest 2017River Swilgate1 locations · latest 2014River Tern4 locations · latest 2019River Torne3 locations · latest 2016River Trent8 locations · latest 2023River Warwickshire Avon8 locations · latest 2014River Warwickshire Avon16 locations · latest 2016
North West 3 pages
South East 29 pages
Jubilee River6 locations · latest 2013Lee Navigation8 locations · latest 2024Old River Lea1 locations · latest 2025Right hand bank (artificial)3 locations · latest 2007River Boveney - Romney3 locations · latest 2016River Cherwell8 locations · latest 2014River Colne4 locations · latest 2022River Desborough Island3 locations · latest 2014River Ember FAS3 locations · latest 2025River Eton College2 locations · latest 2014River Evenlode2 locations · latest 2012River Flood Relief4 locations · latest 2009River Kennet9 locations · latest 2022River Lee5 locations · latest 2022River Marlow2 locations · latest 2016River Medway9 locations · latest 2026River Molesey - Teddington3 locations · latest 2014River Old Windsor - Bell3 locations · latest 2014River Oxford Watercourses5 locations · latest 2014River Penton Hook - Chertsey2 locations · latest 2009River Rmc8 locations · latest 2024River Romney - Old Windsor5 locations · latest 2011River Rother2 locations · latest 2016River Shepperton - Sunbury2 locations · latest 2014River Sunbury - Molesey3 locations · latest 2007River Thame4 locations · latest 2010River Thames24 locations · latest 2025River Wallers Haven4 locations · latest 2025River Wey Combined3 locations · latest 2014
South West 12 pages
Division Rhyne3 locations · latest 2004Eel Survey5 locations · latest 2013Huntspill/South Drain Catchment4 locations · latest 2023King's Sedgemoor Drain3 locations · latest 2022Lower Parrett Dredge Surveys2 locations · latest 2014Main River Brue1 locations · latest 2009Main River Parrett8 locations · latest 2025Main River Parrett8 locations · latest 2014Main River Tone2 locations · latest 2019Main River Yeo5 locations · latest 2005Sowy River2 locations · latest 2014Sowy River2 locations · latest 2008
Yorkshire and North East 10 pages
River Dearne2 locations · latest 2025River Derwent (Yorkshire)11 locations · latest 2024River Don7 locations · latest 2017River Hull5 locations · latest 2010River Nidd8 locations · latest 2025River Ouse20 locations · latest 2024River Ouse/Ure eel surveys2 locations · latest 2026River Swale10 locations · latest 2025River Ure19 locations · latest 2025River Wharfe8 locations · latest 2024
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 ruffe.
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 →