RiverFish

Stone loach · Barbatula barbatula

Stone loach in the River Blackwater

Largest measured stone loach: 12.1 cm

The largest stone loach measured in Environment Agency surveys of the River Blackwater was 12.1 cm, recorded at Stisted FGS on 14 May 1993.

Across 975 measured stone loach, the median measured length was 8.6 cm.

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

See stone loach records across England →

Most recent observation8 November 2023Dorewards Hall · 4 fish
Largest measured stone loach
12.1 cm
Median length
8.6 cm
Fish measured
975
Survey locations
22

Individual EA measurements

Largest measured stone loach

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

LengthSurvey dateSurvey locationSurvey ID
12.1 cm14 May 1993Stisted FGS14134
11.9 cm15 Apr 1987Greys Mill14060
11.6 cm17 Oct 2014Smallands Hall143681
11.5 cm23 Sept 2002Stisted FGS65183
11.5 cm24 Apr 1987Saint Marys Road14061
11.4 cm15 Sept 2023Stisted FGS163938
11.4 cm26 Sept 2017Greys Mill152421
11.4 cm16 Sept 2011Stisted FGS128008
11.3 cm18 Sept 2017Kelvedon Coalyard152423
11.3 cm20 Sept 2002Lyons Hall (River Blackwater)65161

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

Explore the river

Where stone loach were found

Each point marks a survey location with at least one stone loach 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 stone loach
Dorewards Hall9 Aug 19968 Nov 20235
Upstream Braxted Hall10 Sept 19967 Oct 20239
Saint Marys Road24 Apr 19873 Oct 20236
Stock Hall19 Sept 19961 Oct 20238
Blue Mills27 Apr 198728 Sept 202311
Coggeshall14 Sept 199926 Sept 202313
Kelvedon Coalyard13 Sept 200423 Sept 202311
Stisted FGS13 Jul 198415 Sept 202319
Smallands Hall10 Aug 198430 Oct 201710
Braxted FGS6 Sept 199627 Sept 201712
Greys Mill15 Apr 198726 Sept 20176
Bradwell Hall4 Apr 199014 Sept 201710
Rye Mill19 Apr 199021 Oct 20146
Pointwell Mill25 Sept 200821 Sept 20112
Downstream Braxted Hall7 Aug 198430 Sept 20083
Ashmans Farm3 Aug 198419 Sept 20086
Feeringbury Hall28 Aug 199615 Sept 20082
Covenbrook Hall10 Sept 200810 Sept 20081
West Mill27 Feb 19878 Sept 20085
Lyons Hall (River Blackwater)7 May 19932 Sept 20084
Hobbs Meadow11 Jul 198425 Aug 20054
Bradwell Bridge16 Aug 199616 Aug 19961

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

1984–2023

Survey records by year

Each bar shows how many survey visits recorded stone loach that year.

Fish measured by surveyors

Measured length distribution

See how the 975 measured fish were spread across different length ranges.

Smallest
3.2 cm
Lower quarter
7.8 cm
Median
8.6 cm
Upper quarter
9.3 cm
Largest
12.1 cm

Lengths are direct survey measurements rather than anglers’ catches.

More fish in this river

Explore the River Blackwater

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

Roach Chub Gudgeon European eel Perch Dace

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 →