RiverFish

Atlantic salmon · Salmo salar

Atlantic salmon in the Main river sites

Largest measured atlantic salmon: 17.6 cm

The largest atlantic salmon measured in Environment Agency surveys of the Main river sites was 17.6 cm, recorded at Cowgrove Weir on 20 September 2022.

Across 665 measured atlantic salmon, the median measured length was 8.4 cm.

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

See atlantic salmon records across England →

Most recent observation18 September 2025Canford School (top site S2S) · 5 fish
Largest measured atlantic salmon
17.6 cm
Median length
8.4 cm
Fish measured
665
Survey locations
22

Individual EA measurements

Largest measured atlantic salmon

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

LengthSurvey dateSurvey locationSurvey ID
17.6 cm20 Sept 2022Cowgrove Weir162115
16.5 cm16 Sept 2019Crawford Bridge155774
16.5 cm9 Aug 2010Blandford channel123333
16.4 cm16 Sept 2021Crawford Bridge160737
16 cm16 May 2013S4R Dudsbury to Merritown136064
15.6 cm17 Sept 2019Canford School (top site S2S)155772
14.8 cm15 Sept 2021Canford School (top site S2S)160743
14.6 cm16 Sept 2021Crawford Bridge160737
14.6 cm17 Sept 2019Canford School (top site S2S)155772
14.5 cm19 Sept 2024Canford School (top site S2S)175551

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

Explore the river

Where atlantic salmon were found

Each point marks a survey location with at least one atlantic salmon 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 surveyedFirst recordedLast recordedVisits finding atlantic salmon
Throop d/s Glens Weir17 Sept 201918 Sept 20254
Muscliffe- Kingfisher Barn Visitor Centre17 Sept 201918 Sept 20256
Longham Bridge11 Oct 200518 Sept 20259
Kinson8 Sept 200318 Sept 20258
Canford School (top site S2S)11 Sept 200318 Sept 202510
Sturminster Marshall Island16 Sept 201916 Sept 20255
Crawford Bridge26 Sept 200516 Sept 20259
Court Farm25 Sept 200516 Sept 20256
Charlton Marshall Island16 Sept 202116 Sept 20253
Cowgrove Weir17 Sept 200318 Sept 20238
d/s Blandford Weir23 Sept 200520 Sept 20223
Keyneston Mill26 Sept 200520 Sept 20222
Stour at Millmore Farm1 Aug 20191 Aug 20191
S3R Corfe Mullen to Cowgrove22 Jun 200427 Jun 20182
S4R Dudsbury to Merritown17 Jun 200416 May 20132
Muscliffe8 Sept 200310 Sept 20124
Throop21 Oct 20035 Sept 20123
A347 Road Bridge8 Sept 20035 Sept 20123
Blandford channel9 Aug 20109 Aug 20101
Canford School (Bottom Site S3S)11 Sept 200311 Oct 20052
U/s Whitemill Bridge26 Sept 200526 Sept 20051
Spetisbury Ford26 Sept 200526 Sept 20051

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

2003–2025

Survey records by year

Each bar shows how many survey visits recorded atlantic salmon that year.

Fish measured by surveyors

Measured length distribution

See how the 665 measured fish were spread across different length ranges.

Smallest
4.4 cm
Lower quarter
7.5 cm
Median
8.4 cm
Upper quarter
9.3 cm
Largest
17.6 cm

Lengths are direct survey measurements rather than anglers’ catches.

More fish in this river

Explore the Main river sites

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

Minnow Bullhead European eel Dace Stone loach Chub

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 →