Direct individual measurements
Largest smelt 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 Alde (Main Reaches)Anglian | 20.9 cm (8.2 in) | 18 cm (7.1 in) | 128 | 25 Mar 2003Upstream Langham Bridge |
| 2 | River Thurne (Seine)Anglian | 20.1 cm (7.9 in) | 9.4 cm (3.7 in) | 97 | 17 Oct 1989Downstream Repps Staithe |
| 3 | River Tidal YareAnglian | 19.4 cm (7.6 in) | 6.1 cm (2.4 in) | 221 | 4 Dec 1991Downstream Cantley B.S. |
| 4 | River Tidal BureAnglian | 19.1 cm (7.5 in) | 10.4 cm (4.1 in) | 33 | 28 Oct 1993Upstream Stokeby |
| 5 | Relief ChannelAnglian | 16.3 cm (6.4 in) | 10.8 cm (4.3 in) | 808 | 17 Sept 1993Tail Sluice |
| 6 | River Tidal WaveneyAnglian | 15.6 cm (6.1 in) | 5.4 cm (2.1 in) | 180 | 29 Sept 1999Downstream Landspring Beck |
| 7 | New CutAnglian | 15.2 cm (6 in) | 7 cm (2.8 in) | 52 | 5 Oct 1987337 |
| 8 | River Heigham SoundAnglian | 12.5 cm (4.9 in) | 10.5 cm (4.1 in) | 63 | 23 Sept 198657 |
| 9 | Horsey MereAnglian | 12.2 cm (4.8 in) | 12.2 cm (4.8 in) | 1 | 22 Oct 198684 |
| 10 | Middle Level Main DrainAnglian | 11.8 cm (4.6 in) | 9.8 cm (3.9 in) | 71 | 1 Oct 1987Peter's Drove Bridge |
Equal maximum lengths are ordered by sample size. Measurements are shown as recorded and are not converted into estimated weights.
1,961 fish measured
Measured smelt lengths
The median divides the measured sample in half. This distribution describes surveyed fish, not every smelt 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 smelt observations
The ten most recent survey visits that recorded smelt in named waterways.
| Date | River or waterway | Survey location | Fish recorded |
|---|---|---|---|
| 27 Mar 2014 | River Wensum (Barbel) | New Mills Yard | 1 |
| 21 Apr 2011 | Counter Drain | Salters Lode | 75 |
| 20 May 2008 | Counter Drain | Salters Lode | 1 |
| 25 Mar 2003 | River Alde (Main Reaches) | Upstream Langham Bridge | 128 |
| 30 Sept 1999 | River Tidal Waveney | Oulton Dyke | 6 |
| 29 Sept 1999 | River Tidal Waveney | Downstream Landspring Beck | 3 |
| 2 Sept 1997 | River Tidal Yare | Downstream Cantley B.S. | 2 |
| 2 Sept 1997 | River Tidal Yare | Downstream Cantley Dyke | 6 |
| 2 Sept 1997 | River Tidal Yare | Downstream Beauchamp Arms | 1 |
| 15 Jul 1997 | Cut-Off Channel | Denver Sluice | 1 |
A survey record confirms smelt at that place and time. It does not show present-day abundance or fishing access.
135 positive survey visits
Survey distribution
EA surveys recorded smelt at 92 locations across 26 named waterways represented on RiverFish.
| Region | Waterways | Locations | Survey visits | Latest record |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Anglian | 25 | 91 | 134 | 27 Mar 2014 |
| South East | 1 | 1 | 1 | 30 Jul 1993 |
12 detailed pages
Smelt by river
Open any river-specific page for its measured lengths, largest surveyed individuals, locations and observation history.
Anglian 12 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 smelt.
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 →