RiverFish

Bullhead · Cottus gobio

Bullhead in the Main river sites

Largest measured bullhead: 6.3 cm

The largest bullhead measured in Environment Agency surveys of the Main river sites was 6.3 cm, recorded at S1R Fiddleford to Child Okeford on 17 May 2016.

Across 21 measured bullhead, the median measured length was 4.7 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 bullhead records across England →

Most recent observation18 September 2025Canford School (top site S2S) · 4 fish
Largest measured bullhead
6.3 cm
Median length
4.7 cm
Fish measured
21
Survey locations
44

Individual EA measurements

Largest measured bullhead

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

LengthSurvey dateSurvey locationSurvey ID
6.3 cm17 May 2016S1R Fiddleford to Child Okeford148254
5.5 cm14 Jun 2016S2 Upstream Eccliffe148352
5.5 cm7 Jun 2011S2 Upstream Eccliffe126487
5.3 cm17 May 2016S1R Fiddleford to Child Okeford148254
5.3 cm7 Jun 2011S1 Gillingham126468
5 cm7 Jun 2011S2 Upstream Eccliffe126487
4.8 cm7 Jun 2011S2 Upstream Eccliffe126487
4.8 cm7 Jun 2011S2 Upstream Eccliffe126487
4.8 cm7 Jun 2011S2 Upstream Eccliffe126487
4.7 cm7 Jun 2011S2 Upstream Eccliffe126487

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

Explore the river

Where bullhead were found

Each point marks a survey location with at least one bullhead 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 bullhead
Muscliffe- Kingfisher Barn Visitor Centre17 Sept 201918 Sept 20255
Longham Bridge21 Nov 200318 Sept 202510
Kinson8 Sept 200318 Sept 20259
Cowgrove Weir17 Sept 200318 Sept 202510
Canford School (top site S2S)11 Sept 200318 Sept 202510
d/s Blandford Weir12 Sept 200716 Sept 20258
Sturminster Marshall Island16 Sept 201916 Sept 20255
Crawford Bridge17 Sept 200316 Sept 202510
Court Farm10 Sept 201216 Sept 20256
Charlton Marshall Island16 Sept 201916 Sept 20256
Keyneston Mill15 Aug 201218 Sept 20246
Durweston Downstream of footbridge16 Sept 201918 Sept 20245
Upstream Haywards Bridge16 Sept 201918 Sept 20233
S1 Gillingham1 Jul 20048 Jun 202312
Throop d/s Glens Weir11 Sept 200921 Sept 20224
Blandford - Stour Meadow13 Jun 201827 Jul 20223
Stour at Millmore Farm1 Aug 20191 Aug 20191
S2 Upstream Eccliffe8 Aug 20026 Jun 201910
S7 Durweston8 Jun 201130 May 20197
S5 Strangeways5 Aug 200223 May 20198
S3R Corfe Mullen to Cowgrove22 Jun 200427 Jun 20185
S2R Stourpaine to Bryanston13 Jul 200431 May 20184
Canford Mill Stream31 May 201230 May 20182
S1R Fiddleford to Child Okeford12 May 200517 May 20188
S6 Child okeford8 Jun 201131 May 20172
Muscliffe13 Oct 200510 Sept 20122
Throop21 Oct 20035 Sept 20124
Sturminster Marshall lay-by5 Sept 20125 Sept 20121
A347 Road Bridge11 Oct 20055 Sept 20122
S8 Blandford4 Sept 20124 Sept 20121
U/s Whitemill Bridge26 Sept 200515 Aug 20122
Spetisbury Ford8 Sept 200315 Aug 20122
S9 Spetisbury30 May 201230 May 20121
The Ship Inn2 Jun 200524 Aug 20103
Blandford channel9 Aug 20109 Aug 20101
Throop u/s Glens Weir11 Sept 200911 Sept 20091
Throop d/s gauging Weir11 Sept 200911 Sept 20091
S4 St Mary's Marnhull24 Jul 200213 Jun 20063
Redhill13 Oct 200513 Oct 20051
Iford (between bridges)13 Oct 200513 Oct 20051
Canford School (Bottom Site S3S)11 Sept 200311 Oct 20052
Ham Carpark23 Sept 200523 Sept 20051
Hanford9 Jun 20059 Jun 20051
S4R Dudsbury to Merritown17 Jun 200417 Jun 20041

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

2002–2025

Survey records by year

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

Fish measured by surveyors

Measured length distribution

See how the 21 measured fish were spread across different length ranges.

Smallest
2.6 cm
Lower quarter
4.2 cm
Median
4.7 cm
Upper quarter
5 cm
Largest
6.3 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 European eel Dace Stone loach Chub Gudgeon

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 →