RiverFish

Bullhead · Cottus gobio

Bullhead in the River Test

Largest measured bullhead: 9.6 cm

The largest bullhead measured in Environment Agency surveys of the River Test was 9.6 cm, recorded at Tufton Main on 15 October 2010.

Across 781 measured bullhead, the median measured length was 5.2 cm.

Surveyors recorded weights for 21 bullhead. The median was 0.2 oz (0.006 kg) and the largest recorded weight was 1 oz (0.027 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 Test.

See bullhead records across England →

Most recent observation9 October 2025Butchers Mead · 6 fish
Largest measured bullhead
9.6 cm
Median length
5.2 cm
Fish measured
781
Survey locations
69

Individual EA measurements

Largest measured bullhead

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

LengthSurvey dateSurvey locationSurvey ID
9.6 cm15 Oct 2010Tufton Main124714
9 cm15 Sept 2025Linhay Meads Island Meadow178937
9 cm9 Sept 2025Bunnies178726
9 cm22 Aug 2025Romsey War Memorial Park179872
8.9 cm16 Sept 2025Greatbridge Railway178973
8.9 cm19 Aug 2010Mottisfont, Oakley Farm123827
8.8 cm12 Sept 2025Longstock Mill178979
8.8 cm15 Oct 2010Tufton Main124714
8.6 cm15 Oct 2010Tufton Main124714
8.6 cm13 Aug 2009Romsey War Memorial Park120033

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

Explore the river

Where bullhead were found

Each point marks a survey location with at least one bullhead 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 bullhead
Kimbridge House4 Sept 20189 Oct 20257
Butchers Mead9 Oct 20259 Oct 20251
Freelands House, Wherwell17 Sept 20107 Oct 20258
Big Berm, Freelands7 Oct 20257 Oct 20251
Fullerton Old Beat25 Sept 202325 Sept 20253
Compton Islands17 Sept 202425 Sept 20252
Compton16 Jul 200425 Sept 202511
Greatbridge Railway30 Sept 200416 Sept 20259
Grayling Island26 Aug 201016 Sept 20258
Mottisfont Bittern Shallow19 Sept 202415 Sept 20252
Linhay Meads Island Meadow15 Sept 202315 Sept 20253
Linhay Meads Fishermans Meadow15 Sept 202315 Sept 20253
Kimbridge Mill Cottage20 Sept 201615 Sept 20259
Sheepbridge6 Aug 200712 Sept 202512
Moorcourt Main23 Jul 201812 Sept 20255
Machine Shallows20 Sept 202112 Sept 20254
Longstock Mill16 Sept 200812 Sept 202511
Meadowview23 Sept 202011 Sept 20255
Mainstone Farm25 Aug 201611 Sept 20257
Longbridge12 Aug 201011 Sept 202510
Burnt Mill1 Sept 201611 Sept 20257
Mottisfont, Oakley Farm19 Aug 201010 Sept 202510
Horsebridge6 Aug 200710 Sept 202515
Broadwater Point16 Sept 202410 Sept 20252
Bossington House beat6 Sept 201810 Sept 20258
Mayfly26 Aug 20109 Sept 202510
Bunnies19 Oct 20079 Sept 202512
Romsey Canal3 Sept 20038 Sept 202514
Romsey War Memorial Park14 Nov 200322 Aug 202519
Compton Carrier13 Sept 20029 Jul 202514
Pittleworth24 Jul 202019 Sept 20235
Nut Walk, Pittleworth24 Jul 202019 Sept 20234
Mottisfont Abbey stocked trout removal12 May 202312 May 20231
Moorcourt Carrier25 Aug 20049 Sept 20227
Upper Houghton28 Sept 202016 Sept 20212
Upstream M2728 Aug 200723 Sept 20208
Kimbridge House 34 Sept 20184 Sept 20181
Kimbridge House 24 Sept 20184 Sept 20181
Romsey World of Water18 Jul 201818 Jul 20181
Tufton Main15 Oct 201028 Sept 20162
Tufton Carrier8 Jun 200428 Sept 20163
Timsbury Mayfly carrier7 Sept 201021 Sept 20162
Mottisfont Abbey, Oakley carrier15 Jul 200421 Sept 20163
Kimbridge: Wallace's Leat confluence16 Sept 201020 Sept 20162
Kimbridge, New stream16 Sept 201020 Sept 20162
Stockbridge, Marsh Court21 Sept 20106 Sept 20162
Timsbury Mayfly carrier u/s of bridge8 Jul 20148 Jul 20141
Fairbourne stream, Brook Farm1 Sept 20118 Jul 20142
Romsey Canal Railway Bridge18 Apr 201317 Apr 20142
Red River Carrier, Broadlands15 Aug 200814 Jun 20132
Freefolk Piscatorial5 Oct 20125 Oct 20121
Dublin Farm13 Jul 200417 Jul 20122
Leckford Carrier12 Jul 201212 Jul 20121
Chilbolton Common12 Jul 201212 Jul 20121
Overton19 Aug 20047 Jul 20122
Overton pipeline5 Jul 20125 Jul 20121
Timsbury carrier restoration site18 Oct 201118 Oct 20111
Longparish, Southside Carrier16 Sept 201016 Sept 20101
Mays Island30 Sept 200430 Sept 20041
House Beat2 Sept 20042 Sept 20041
Papermill Farm24 Aug 200424 Aug 20041
Laverstoke19 Aug 200419 Aug 20041
Dead End30 Jul 200430 Jul 20041
Testbourne29 Jul 200429 Jul 20041
Kimbridge main15 Jul 200415 Jul 20041
North Head14 Jul 200414 Jul 20041
Wherwell Lower13 Jul 200413 Jul 20041
Longparish, Southside Farm8 Jul 20048 Jul 20041
Dairybridge7 Jul 20047 Jul 20041

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 bullhead that year.

Fish measured by surveyors

Measured length distribution

See how the 781 measured fish were spread across different length ranges.

Smallest
2 cm
Lower quarter
4.3 cm
Median
5.2 cm
Upper quarter
6.4 cm
Largest
9.6 cm

Lengths are direct survey measurements rather than anglers’ catches.

Fish weighed by surveyors

Measured weight summary

Recorded weights were available for 21 bullhead. This is a subset of the measured fish and may not represent the whole population.

Lightest
0.1 oz (0.002 kg)
Lower quarter
0.1 oz (0.003 kg)
Median
0.2 oz (0.006 kg)
Upper quarter
0.3 oz (0.009 kg)
Heaviest
1 oz (0.027 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 Test

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

Brown / sea trout European eel Minnow Stone loach Grayling 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 →