RiverFish

European eel · Anguilla anguilla

European eel in the Main river sites

Largest measured european eel: 81.7 cm

The largest european eel measured in Environment Agency surveys of the Main river sites was 81.7 cm, recorded at S4 St Mary's Marnhull on 16 July 2008.

Across 172 measured european eel, the median measured length was 30.1 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 european eel records across England →

Most recent observation18 September 2025Longham Bridge · 1 fish
Largest measured european eel
81.7 cm
Median length
30.1 cm
Fish measured
172
Survey locations
42

Individual EA measurements

Largest measured european eel

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

LengthSurvey dateSurvey locationSurvey ID
81.7 cm16 Jul 2008S4 St Mary's Marnhull111975
62 cm21 May 2019S1 Gillingham154495
62 cm21 May 2015S1R Fiddleford to Child Okeford144760
61 cm4 Jun 2009S3R Corfe Mullen to Cowgrove117536
60.2 cm17 May 2018S1R Fiddleford to Child Okeford152548
60 cm18 Sept 2024d/s Blandford Weir175550
60 cm16 Sept 2021d/s Blandford Weir160739
60 cm16 Sept 2019Upstream Haywards Bridge155794
60 cm27 Jun 2018S3R Corfe Mullen to Cowgrove152927
59 cm31 May 2018S2R Stourpaine to Bryanston152660

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

Explore the river

Where european eel were found

Each point marks a survey location with at least one european eel 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 european eel
Longham Bridge21 Nov 200318 Sept 202510
d/s Blandford Weir12 Sept 200716 Sept 20255
Muscliffe- Kingfisher Barn Visitor Centre15 Oct 202119 Sept 20233
Kinson11 Oct 200519 Sept 20237
Keyneston Mill15 Aug 201218 Sept 20232
Durweston Downstream of footbridge16 Sept 201918 Sept 20232
Charlton Marshall Island15 Sept 202315 Sept 20231
S1 Gillingham17 Jul 20028 Jun 202311
Throop d/s Glens Weir17 Sept 201921 Sept 20223
Upstream Haywards Bridge16 Sept 201916 Sept 20191
Sturminster Marshall Island16 Sept 201916 Sept 20191
Blandford - Stour Meadow13 Jun 201831 Jul 20192
S7 Durweston4 Jul 201330 May 20195
Crawford Bridge17 Sept 200323 Aug 20184
Cowgrove Weir17 Sept 200323 Aug 20184
S3R Corfe Mullen to Cowgrove22 Jun 200427 Jun 20186
S5 Strangeways5 Aug 20025 Jun 20185
S2R Stourpaine to Bryanston13 Jul 200431 May 20186
Canford School (top site S2S)11 Sept 200330 May 20184
Canford Mill Stream31 May 201230 May 20182
S1R Fiddleford to Child Okeford12 May 200517 May 20183
S6 Child okeford31 May 201731 May 20171
S4R Dudsbury to Merritown17 Jun 200416 May 20135
Muscliffe8 Sept 200310 Sept 20124
Throop21 Oct 20035 Sept 20123
A347 Road Bridge8 Sept 20035 Sept 20123
S8 Blandford4 Sept 20124 Sept 20121
U/s Whitemill Bridge15 Aug 201215 Aug 20121
Canford School Reach31 May 201231 May 20121
S9 Spetisbury30 May 201230 May 20121
Blandford channel9 Aug 20109 Aug 20101
Throop d/s gauging Weir11 Sept 200911 Sept 20091
S3 Riversdale Farm7 Jun 200610 Jul 20092
S4 St Mary's Marnhull24 Jul 200211 Jun 20096
The Ship Inn15 Jul 20043 Jul 20083
S5R Iford Bridge to Hengistbury Head13 May 200412 May 20084
S2 Upstream Eccliffe8 Aug 200212 Jun 20074
Canford School (Bottom Site S3S)11 Sept 200311 Oct 20052
Hanford9 Jun 20059 Jun 20051
Redhill11 Sept 200311 Sept 20031
Spetisbury Ford8 Sept 20038 Sept 20031
Kinson Manor Farm (Dudsbury)8 Sept 20038 Sept 20031

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 european eel that year.

Fish measured by surveyors

Measured length distribution

See how the 172 measured fish were spread across different length ranges.

Smallest
10.6 cm
Lower quarter
23 cm
Median
30.1 cm
Upper quarter
43 cm
Largest
81.7 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 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 →