RiverFish

3-spined stickleback · Gasterosteus aculeatus

3-spined stickleback in the River Cam

Largest measured 3-spined stickleback: 8.7 cm

The largest 3-spined stickleback measured in Environment Agency surveys of the River Cam was 8.7 cm, recorded at old Hopton Court School site on 27 July 1992.

Across 191 measured 3-spined stickleback, the median measured length was 4.5 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 Cam.

See 3-spined stickleback records across England →

Most recent observation25 May 2016Pumping station downstream to Wicksters brook conf · 1 fish
Largest measured 3-spined stickleback
8.7 cm
Median length
4.5 cm
Fish measured
191
Survey locations
13

Individual EA measurements

Largest measured 3-spined stickleback

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

LengthSurvey dateSurvey locationSurvey ID
8.7 cm27 Jul 1992old Hopton Court School site56195
7.5 cm21 Oct 1996Owlpen56193
7.2 cm27 Jul 1992old Hopton Court School site56195
7.2 cm12 Sept 1989old Hopton Court School site56210
7.1 cm27 Jul 1992old Hopton Court School site56195
7.1 cm16 Jan 1980Waterend Farm, d/s sewage works56252
7.1 cm16 Jan 1980Waterend Farm, d/s sewage works56252
7 cm10 Nov 1976Waterend Farm, d/s sewage works56253
6.8 cm16 Oct 1996Draycott Farm56212
6.8 cm27 Jul 1992old Hopton Court School site56195

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

Explore the river

Where 3-spined stickleback were found

Each point marks a survey location with at least one 3-spined stickleback 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 3-spined stickleback
Pumping station downstream to Wicksters brook conf25 May 201625 May 20161
Cambridge, u/s weir24 May 201224 May 20121
Cambridge d/s gauging weir24 May 201224 May 20121
River Cam Lister Petter site unculverted section 319 May 201119 May 20111
Owlpen21 Oct 199621 Oct 19961
old Hopton Court School site10 Nov 197616 Oct 19964
Waterend Farm, d/s sewage works10 Nov 197616 Oct 19965
Draycott Farm10 Nov 197616 Oct 19965
Coaley d/s weir u/s WRW12 Sept 198916 Oct 19963
Halmore Mills, Coaley u/s weir, u/s WRW12 Sept 198927 Jul 19922
Uley, Rockstowes11 Oct 19766 Jul 19923
Dursley, Yellow Hundred6 Jul 19926 Jul 19921
u/s Pumping Station14 Sept 198914 Sept 19891

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

1976–2016

Survey records by year

Each bar shows how many survey visits recorded 3-spined stickleback that year.

Fish measured by surveyors

Measured length distribution

See how the 191 measured fish were spread across different length ranges.

Smallest
2.2 cm
Lower quarter
4 cm
Median
4.5 cm
Upper quarter
5.1 cm
Largest
8.7 cm

Lengths are direct survey measurements rather than anglers’ catches.

More fish in this river

Explore the River Cam

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

European eel Brown / sea trout Bullhead Roach Perch 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 →