RiverFish

3-spined stickleback · Gasterosteus aculeatus

3-spined stickleback in the River Tees

Largest measured 3-spined stickleback: 5.4 cm

The largest 3-spined stickleback measured in Environment Agency surveys of the River Tees was 5.4 cm, recorded at Croft - Fry Survey on 8 October 2003.

Across 178 measured 3-spined stickleback, the median measured length was 4.4 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 Tees.

See 3-spined stickleback records across England →

Most recent observation8 October 2025SAP/BT Annual, Summerhouse Beck - Piercebridge
Largest measured 3-spined stickleback
5.4 cm
Median length
4.4 cm
Fish measured
178
Survey locations
42

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
5.4 cm8 Oct 2003Croft - Fry Survey130711
5.4 cm8 Oct 2003Croft - Fry Survey130711
5.4 cm8 Oct 2003Croft - Fry Survey130711
5.4 cm8 Oct 2003Croft - Fry Survey130711
5.4 cm11 Sept 2001Croft - Fry Survey130709
5.4 cm19 Sept 2000Croft - Fry Survey130708
5.3 cm8 Oct 2003Croft - Fry Survey130711
5.3 cm11 Sept 2001Croft - Fry Survey130709
5.2 cm8 Oct 2003Croft - Fry Survey130711
5.2 cm11 Sept 2001Croft - Fry Survey130709

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
SAP/BT Annual, Summerhouse Beck - Piercebridge17 Oct 20008 Oct 202510
Temporal Coarse, Low Coniscliffe11 Sept 202511 Sept 20251
Temporal Coarse, Neasham16 Sept 200311 Aug 202510
SAP/BT Quin, River Greta, East Mellwaters31 Oct 202331 Oct 20231
SAP/BT Quin, River Leven, Crathorne8 Jun 201126 Jun 20232
SAP/BT Quin, River Leven, Bense Bridge9 Jun 201126 Jun 20232
SAP/BT Quin, River Leven, Hutton Rudby23 Jun 202323 Jun 20231
SAP/BT Quin, River Leven, Broughton Bridge Beck7 Jun 201122 Jun 20232
Spatial Coarse, Saltersgill Beck, Saltersgill29 Jun 201014 Sept 20222
SAP/BT Quin, River Balder, Downstream Hury22 Sept 20088 Sept 20225
Temporal Coarse, Low Moor4 Sept 201316 Sept 20196
Temporal Coarse, Low Haile Bridge21 Oct 201118 Sept 20185
Temporal Coarse, Croft15 Oct 201011 Sept 20184
River Balder West Park Farm10 Sept 201710 Sept 20171
SAP/BT Quin, Clow Beck, Willow Bridge29 Jun 201012 Sept 20162
SAP/BT Quin, Clow Beck, Aldbrough St John12 Sept 201612 Sept 20161
SAP/BT Quin, Percy Beck, Barnard Castle27 Jul 201627 Jul 20161
SAP/BT Quin, Spa Beck, Old Spa Farm22 Sept 200826 Jul 20163
SAP/BT Quin, Killerby Beck, Killerby4 Nov 200426 Jul 20163
SAP/BT Quin, Langley Beck, Dent Gate farm25 Jul 201625 Jul 20161
Ormsby Beck - North Ormsby20 Sept 20136 Sept 20152
Ormsby Beck - Berwick Hills20 Sept 20136 Sept 20152
Marton West Beck - Golf Course20 Sept 20136 Sept 20152
Marton West Beck - Fairy Dell20 Sept 20136 Sept 20152
SAP/BT Quin, Maltby Beck, Maltby16 Nov 200420 Nov 20142
WFD O Clow Beck at Clow Beck Farm3 Oct 20133 Oct 20131
Spatial Coarse, Saltersgill Beck, High Worsall17 Nov 200423 Sept 20132
Marton West Beck - Arlington Road20 Sept 201320 Sept 20131
Greatham Beck, Newton Hanzard16 Nov 20048 Jun 20112
SAP/BT Quin, River Leven, Angrove West Farm29 Jun 20057 Jun 20112
SAP/BT Annual, Clow Beck - Monk End Farm17 Oct 20007 Sept 20102
SAP/BT Quin, Spa Beck, Spa Cottage29 Sept 20086 Sept 20102
SAP/BT Quin, Sudburn Beck, Bow Bridge17 Oct 200028 Jun 20102
Croft - Fry Survey26 Sept 19945 Sept 200610
Spatial Coarse, Dalton Beck, Dalton17 Nov 200417 Nov 20041
Temporal Coarse, Egglescliffe - Leven Mouth12 Sept 200112 Sept 20011
Temporal Coarse, Bassleton Beck - U/s pipe bridge10 Sept 200110 Sept 20011
Temporal Coarse, Thornaby - U/s The Holmes6 Sept 20016 Sept 20011
Temporal Coarse, Yarm3 Sept 20013 Sept 20011
Temporal Coarse, Aislaby3 Sept 20013 Sept 20011
Low Moor - Fry Survey29 Sept 199526 Sept 19962
Low Worsall Fish Haven - Fry Survey26 Sept 199426 Sept 19941

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

1994–2025

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 178 measured fish were spread across different length ranges.

Smallest
2 cm
Lower quarter
3.7 cm
Median
4.4 cm
Upper quarter
4.8 cm
Largest
5.4 cm

Lengths are direct survey measurements rather than anglers’ catches.

More fish in this river

Explore the River Tees

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

Brown / sea trout Bullhead Minnow Stone loach European eel Atlantic salmon

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 →