RiverFish

Roach · Rutilus rutilus

Roach in the River Medway

Largest measured roach: 33.3 cm

The largest roach measured in Environment Agency surveys of the River Medway was 33.3 cm, recorded at Sovereign Way Tonbridge on 14 September 2016.

Across 14,443 measured roach, the median measured length was 8 cm.

Surveyors recorded weights for 179 roach. The median was 2 oz (0.057 kg) and the largest recorded weight was 12.1 oz (0.344 kg).

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

See roach records across England →

Most recent observation21 July 2026Sovereign Way Tonbridge · 150 fish
Largest measured roach
33.3 cm
Median length
8 cm
Fish measured
14,443
Survey locations
21

Individual EA measurements

Largest measured roach

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

LengthSurvey dateSurvey locationSurvey ID
33.3 cm14 Sept 2016Sovereign Way Tonbridge149286
29.8 cm31 Jul 2019Sovereign Way Tonbridge154971
29.8 cm5 Sept 2005Bewleys Weir87576
29.5 cm5 Jun 2007Bewleys Weir106456
29.3 cm10 Sept 2024Sovereign Way Tonbridge168455
29.2 cm5 Sept 2005Bewleys Weir87576
29.1 cm19 Sept 2006Bewleys Weir103377
28.8 cm14 Aug 2012D/s Weirwood Reservoir132885
28.8 cm19 Sept 2006Bewleys Weir103377
28.4 cm19 Sept 2017Sovereign Way Tonbridge151703

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

Explore the river

Where roach were found

Each point marks a survey location with at least one roach 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 roach
Sovereign Way Tonbridge1 Sept 201021 Jul 202615
Golden Green7 Sept 200516 Jul 202617
Tovil16 Nov 200615 Jul 202615
Teston21 Jul 200815 Jul 202614
Yalding Leas27 Sept 200418 Jun 202617
Penshurst22 Nov 200116 Oct 202522
Fordcombe14 Nov 200115 Oct 202522
D/s Ashurst Road Bridge18 Aug 200318 Sept 202520
D/s Weirwood Reservoir19 Jul 20019 Sept 202522
Tonbridge Juvenile Fish Seine Netting Survey20 Jul 201228 May 202519
Maidstone Juvenile Fish Seine Netting Survey30 Aug 201228 May 202515
Hampstead Lock Juvenile Fish Seine Netting Survey15 Jun 201828 May 202510
Hartfield27 Jul 200610 Aug 20238
Hampstead Lock Juvenile Fish Kick Sampling Survey15 Jun 201815 Jun 20181
Yalding Juvenile Fish Seine Netting Survey31 Aug 20128 Aug 20169
Tonbridge Juvenile Fish Kick Sampling Survey20 Jul 20128 Aug 20164
Maidstone Juvenile Fish Kick Sampling Survey20 Jul 20122 Jul 20154
East Farleigh29 Jul 201429 Jul 20141
Yalding Juvenile Fish Kick Sampling Survey31 Aug 201231 Aug 20121
Bewleys Weir23 Sept 20023 Sept 20098
Grom/Medway Confluence u/s9 Oct 20079 Oct 20071

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

2001–2026

Survey records by year

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

Fish measured by surveyors

Measured length distribution

See how the 14,443 measured fish were spread across different length ranges.

Smallest
0.8 cm
Lower quarter
4.4 cm
Median
8 cm
Upper quarter
11.6 cm
Largest
33.3 cm

Lengths are direct survey measurements rather than anglers’ catches.

Fish weighed by surveyors

Measured weight summary

Recorded weights were available for 179 roach. This is a subset of the measured fish and may not represent the whole population.

Lightest
0.1 oz (0.002 kg)
Lower quarter
0.9 oz (0.0255 kg)
Median
2 oz (0.057 kg)
Upper quarter
3.2 oz (0.092 kg)
Heaviest
12.1 oz (0.344 kg)

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

More fish in this river

Explore the River Medway

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

Chub Gudgeon Perch Bleak Dace Minnow

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 →