RiverFish

Barbel · Barbus barbus

Barbel in the River Thames

Largest measured barbel: 80.5 cm

The largest barbel measured in Environment Agency surveys of the River Thames was 80.5 cm, recorded at Abingdon Weirpool on 15 July 2025.

Across 575 measured barbel, the median measured length was 53.7 cm.

Surveyors recorded weights for 2 barbel. The median was 6 lb 13.8 oz (3.11 kg) and the largest recorded weight was 12 lb 1.6 oz (5.49 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 Thames.

See barbel records across England →

Most recent observation16 October 2025Hannington Bridge · 2 fish
Largest measured barbel
80.5 cm
Median length
53.7 cm
Fish measured
575
Survey locations
46

Individual EA measurements

Largest measured barbel

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

LengthSurvey dateSurvey locationSurvey ID
80.5 cm15 Jul 2025Abingdon Weirpool178487
78.5 cm16 Jul 2019Godstow Weirpool155026
78.4 cm16 Jul 2022Abingdon Weirpool162142
78.3 cm26 Sept 2016Roundhouse to St Johns(margins)149510
78 cm15 Jul 2025Abingdon Weirpool178487
75.8 cm15 Jul 2025Abingdon Weirpool178487
75.5 cm8 Jul 2004Abingdon - Culham (Middle)80501
75.1 cm19 Jul 2025Clifton Weir Stream178490
75 cm15 Jul 2025Abingdon Weirpool178487
75 cm26 Sept 2005Godstow weirstream86334

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

Explore the river

Where barbel were found

Each point marks a survey location with at least one barbel 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 barbel
Hannington Bridge14 Oct 201016 Oct 20254
Castle Eaton23 May 200216 Oct 202511
Godstow to Osney26 Sept 200526 Sept 20258
Northmoor- Pinkhill12 Jun 200125 Sept 20258
Rushey to Shifford7 Jun 200124 Sept 202514
Buscot to Grafton5 Jun 200123 Sept 202510
Roundhouse to St Johns(margins)24 Oct 201122 Sept 20258
Days weirpool18 Jul 200820 Jul 20258
Clifton Weir Stream10 Jul 200919 Jul 20259
Clifton Hampden - Days (Margin)10 Jul 200419 Jul 20253
Abingdon Weirpool3 Jul 201315 Jul 20258
Sandford Weir stream14 Jul 201110 Jul 20256
Sandford - Abingdon - (Margin)1 Jul 201410 Jul 20253
Eynsham- kings2 Oct 201519 Sept 20245
Culham Weirpool3 Jul 201412 Jul 20244
Culham - Clifton Hampden (Margin)4 Jul 200012 Jul 20243
Abingdon - Culham (Margin)11 Jul 202411 Jul 20241
Godstow Weirpool26 Oct 201129 Sept 20239
Days - Benson (Margin)13 Jul 200624 Jul 20232
Iffley - Sandford (Margin)14 Jul 202214 Jul 20221
Canal confluence to Marina22 Jun 201815 Jul 20193
Cricklade24 Aug 200611 Oct 20164
Hambleden - Hurley (Weirpool)26 Jul 200612 Jul 20164
Rushey bypass channel18 Sept 201418 Sept 20141
Mapledurham Mill Channel16 Apr 201416 Apr 20141
Water eaton7 Sept 200411 Oct 20132
Radcot Fish Pass25 Sept 201325 Sept 20131
Whitchurch (Weirpool)16 Jul 200310 Jul 20139
Goring weir pool13 Jul 20099 Jul 20134
Benson Weirpool26 Jul 20127 Jul 20132
Rushey Weir Pool12 Oct 200425 Oct 20114
Goring to Whitchurch (Margin)20 Jul 201120 Jul 20111
Northmoor Wier pool15 Oct 200915 Oct 20091
Shiplake - Marsh (Weirpool)24 Jul 200824 Jul 20081
Loddon - Confluence to St Pats Stream24 Jul 200824 Jul 20081
Mapledurham weirpool22 Jul 200822 Jul 20081
St Patricks stream16 Nov 200616 Nov 20061
Eynsham weirpool1 Oct 200318 Oct 20062
Eynsham Weir Stream17 Mar 200616 Aug 20062
Godstow weirstream1 Oct 200326 Sept 20052
Caversham (Weirpool)17 Jul 200319 Jul 20052
Days - Benson (Middle)10 Jul 200211 Jul 20043
Clifton Hampden - Days (Middle)23 Sept 199310 Jul 20045
Abingdon - Culham (Middle)4 Jul 20008 Jul 20042
400yds d/s hannington B-small trib on RB24 Sept 200224 Sept 20021
Hambleden - Hurley (middle)24 Jul 200124 Jul 20011

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

1993–2025

Survey records by year

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

Fish measured by surveyors

Measured length distribution

See how the 575 measured fish were spread across different length ranges.

Smallest
3.9 cm
Lower quarter
17.2 cm
Median
53.7 cm
Upper quarter
64.6 cm
Largest
80.5 cm

Lengths are direct survey measurements rather than anglers’ catches.

Fish weighed by surveyors

Measured weight summary

Recorded weights were available for 2 barbel. This is a subset of the measured fish and may not represent the whole population.

Lightest
1 lb 10 oz (0.737 kg)
Lower quarter
4 lb 3.9 oz (1.92 kg)
Median
6 lb 13.8 oz (3.11 kg)
Upper quarter
9 lb 7.7 oz (4.3 kg)
Heaviest
12 lb 1.6 oz (5.49 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 Thames

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

Roach Bleak Pike Chub 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 →