Dace · Leuciscus leuciscus

Dace in the Main river sites

Largest measured dace: 31.6 cm

The largest dace measured in Environment Agency surveys of the Main river sites was 31.6 cm, recorded at S3R Corfe Mullen to Cowgrove on 18 April 2007.

Across 2,020 measured dace, the median measured length was 15.7 cm.

Surveyors recorded weights for 13 dace. The median was 2.2 oz (0.061 kg) and the largest recorded weight was 8.2 oz (0.233 kg).

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 dace records across England →

Most recent observation18 September 2025Canford School (top site S2S) · 1 fish

Largest measured dace: 31.6 cm
Median length: 15.7 cm
Fish measured: 2,020
Survey locations: 41

Individual EA measurements

Largest measured dace

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
31.6 cm	18 Apr 2007	S3R Corfe Mullen to Cowgrove	105313
28.3 cm	24 May 2005	S3R Corfe Mullen to Cowgrove	84587
27 cm	4 Sept 2012	S8 Blandford	134062
27 cm	9 Aug 2010	Blandford channel	123333
27 cm	4 Jun 2009	S3R Corfe Mullen to Cowgrove	117536
26.7 cm	22 Jun 2004	S3R Corfe Mullen to Cowgrove	80192
26.6 cm	27 Jul 2022	Blandford - Stour Meadow	161234
26.6 cm	6 Jul 2004	S4 St Mary's Marnhull	80311
26.5 cm	31 Jul 2019	Blandford - Stour Meadow	155041
26.5 cm	24 May 2005	S3R Corfe Mullen to Cowgrove	84587

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

Explore the river

Where dace were found

Each point marks a survey location with at least one dace 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 dace
Throop d/s Glens Weir	17 Sept 2019	18 Sept 2025	3
Muscliffe- Kingfisher Barn Visitor Centre	17 Sept 2019	18 Sept 2025	6
Longham Bridge	21 Nov 2003	18 Sept 2025	8
Canford School (top site S2S)	11 Sept 2003	18 Sept 2025	4
Durweston Downstream of footbridge	16 Sept 2019	16 Sept 2025	4
Kinson	10 Sept 2012	19 Sept 2024	5
Cowgrove Weir	17 Sept 2003	19 Sept 2024	7
Upstream Haywards Bridge	16 Sept 2019	18 Sept 2023	4
Blandford - Stour Meadow	13 Jun 2018	27 Jul 2022	3
Charlton Marshall Island	16 Sept 2021	16 Sept 2021	1
Stour at Millmore Farm	1 Aug 2019	1 Aug 2019	1
S2 Upstream Eccliffe	8 Aug 2002	6 Jun 2019	8
S7 Durweston	8 Jun 2011	30 May 2019	8
S5 Strangeways	6 Jul 2004	23 May 2019	12
S1 Gillingham	17 Jul 2002	21 May 2019	12
S3R Corfe Mullen to Cowgrove	22 Jun 2004	27 Jun 2018	7
S2R Stourpaine to Bryanston	13 Jul 2004	31 May 2018	7
S1R Fiddleford to Child Okeford	20 Jul 2004	17 May 2018	10
S6 Child okeford	8 Jun 2011	31 May 2017	4
S5R Iford Bridge to Hengistbury Head	13 May 2004	21 May 2013	4
S4R Dudsbury to Merritown	17 Jun 2004	16 May 2013	5
S8 Blandford	4 Sept 2012	4 Sept 2012	1
Canford School Reach	31 May 2012	31 May 2012	1
Canford Mill Stream	31 May 2012	31 May 2012	1
S9 Spetisbury	30 May 2012	30 May 2012	1
The Ship Inn	3 Jul 2008	24 Aug 2010	2
Blandford channel	9 Aug 2010	9 Aug 2010	1
Throop u/s Glens Weir	11 Sept 2009	11 Sept 2009	1
Throop d/s gauging Weir	11 Sept 2009	11 Sept 2009	1
Throop	21 Oct 2003	11 Sept 2009	4
S3 Riversdale Farm	15 Jul 2004	10 Jul 2009	3
S4 St Mary's Marnhull	6 Jul 2004	11 Jun 2009	6
Muscliffe	8 Sept 2003	13 Sept 2007	3
Iford (between bridges)	13 Oct 2005	13 Oct 2005	1
Golf Course	13 Oct 2005	13 Oct 2005	1
U/s Whitemill Bridge	26 Sept 2005	26 Sept 2005	1
Stourpaine	26 Sept 2005	26 Sept 2005	1
Ham Carpark	23 Sept 2005	23 Sept 2005	1
Hanford	9 Jun 2005	9 Jun 2005	1
Redhill	11 Sept 2003	11 Sept 2003	1
Canford School (Bottom Site S3S)	11 Sept 2003	11 Sept 2003	1

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 dace that year.

202

703

904

1905

306

807

908

909

410

511

812

1013

314

515

416

517

718

1219

020

621

722

523

424

525

Fish measured by surveyors

Measured length distribution

See how the 2,020 measured fish were spread across different length ranges.

Smallest: 3.2 cm
Lower quarter: 11.9 cm
Median: 15.7 cm
Upper quarter: 18.9 cm
Largest: 31.6 cm

0–99 mm

337

100–199 mm

1322

200–299 mm

360

300–399 mm

Lengths are direct survey measurements rather than anglers’ catches.

Fish weighed by surveyors

Measured weight summary

Recorded weights were available for 13 dace. This is a subset of the measured fish and may not represent the whole population.

Lightest: 1.2 oz (0.034 kg)
Lower quarter: 1.9 oz (0.053 kg)
Median: 2.2 oz (0.061 kg)
Upper quarter: 6.6 oz (0.187 kg)
Heaviest: 8.2 oz (0.233 kg)

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

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 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 →