Bleak · Alburnus alburnus

Bleak in the Bristol Avon main river

Largest measured bleak: 15.5 cm

The largest bleak measured in Environment Agency surveys of the Bristol Avon main river was 15.5 cm, recorded at Chippenham (Te) on 13 October 2009.

Across 1,493 measured bleak, the median measured length was 8.2 cm.

Surveyors recorded weights for 487 bleak. The median was 0.2 oz (0.007 kg) and the largest recorded weight was 2.1 oz (0.06 kg).

RiverFish uses Environment Agency survey measurements rather than rod-and-line angling records. These figures show fish measured during EA surveys of the Bristol Avon main river.

See bleak records across England →

Most recent observation3 September 2024Chippenham (Te) · 35 fish

Largest measured bleak: 15.5 cm
Median length: 8.2 cm
Fish measured: 1,493
Survey locations: 7

Individual EA measurements

Largest measured bleak

The largest individual measurements in this river and species dataset. Equal measurements are retained as separate surveyed fish.

Length	Survey date	Survey location	Survey ID
15.5 cm	13 Oct 2009	Chippenham (Te)	119320
15.4 cm	11 Sept 2013	Chippenham (Te)	138684
15.4 cm	3 Jul 2003	Great Somerford (Te)	76285
15.1 cm	4 Sept 2006	Chippenham (Te)	101177
14.7 cm	15 Sept 2015	Chippenham (Te)	146462
14.6 cm	21 Jul 2011	Lacock (Te)	127206
14.6 cm	3 Jul 2003	Great Somerford (Te)	76285
14.5 cm	15 Sept 2015	Chippenham (Te)	146462
14.5 cm	11 Sept 2013	Chippenham (Te)	138684
14.4 cm	4 Sept 2006	Chippenham (Te)	101177

Lengths are direct survey measurements. RiverFish does not estimate fish weights from length.

Explore the river

Where bleak were found

Each point marks a survey location with at least one bleak record.

Choose a point on the map to see what was recorded there.

Map points are approximate and don’t show fishing access. Check local permissions before visiting.

Place surveyed	First recorded	Last recorded	Visits finding bleak
Chippenham (Te)	9 Sept 2003	3 Sept 2024	15
Christian Malford (Te)	19 May 1999	23 Aug 2023	12
Great Somerford (Te)	3 Jul 2003	22 Aug 2023	9
Lacock (Te)	20 Aug 2003	21 Aug 2019	12
Melksham	16 Sept 2015	30 Aug 2017	3
Barton Country Park	18 Sept 2014	18 Sept 2014	1
Rawlings Farm (Te)	23 Jul 2003	12 Jul 2006	4

Choose a point or table row to see the location. More survey visits can mean more records, but not necessarily more fish.

1999–2024

Survey records by year

Each bar shows how many survey visits recorded bleak that year.

199

000

001

002

503

504

505

506

007

008

309

310

411

012

313

514

315

516

317

018

219

020

021

022

323

124

Fish measured by surveyors

Measured length distribution

See how the 1,493 measured fish were spread across different length ranges.

Smallest: 2.4 cm
Lower quarter: 6.6 cm
Median: 8.2 cm
Upper quarter: 9.9 cm
Largest: 15.5 cm

0–99 mm

1122

100–199 mm

371

Lengths are direct survey measurements rather than anglers’ catches.

Fish weighed by surveyors

Measured weight summary

Recorded weights were available for 487 bleak. This is a subset of the measured fish and may not represent the whole population.

Lightest: 0 oz (0.001 kg)
Lower quarter: 0.1 oz (0.004 kg)
Median: 0.2 oz (0.007 kg)
Upper quarter: 0.4 oz (0.01 kg)
Heaviest: 2.1 oz (0.06 kg)

These are direct individual weights recorded by Environment Agency surveyors. Combined bulk weights are not included.

More fish in this river

Explore the Bristol Avon main river

Compare other species with enough survey and measurement data for a detailed page.

Roach Minnow Perch Chub Dace Pike

Before you fish

Good to know

These are past survey records, so the fish present today may be different. Map points are approximate—check local access, permissions and fishing rules before visiting.

Learn how RiverFish uses the data →