RiverFish

European eel · Anguilla anguilla

European eel in the River Thames

Largest measured european eel: 101 cm

The largest european eel measured in Environment Agency surveys of the River Thames was 101 cm, recorded at Culham Weirpool on 22 July 2019.

Across 558 measured european eel, the median measured length was 76 cm.

Surveyors recorded weights for 2 european eel. The median was 3 lb 10.9 oz (1.67 kg) and the largest recorded weight was 4 lb 7.3 oz (2.02 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 european eel records across England →

Most recent observation24 July 2025Shiplake-marsh - (Margin) · 1 fish
Largest measured european eel
101 cm
Median length
76 cm
Fish measured
558
Survey locations
47

Individual EA measurements

Largest measured european eel

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

LengthSurvey dateSurvey locationSurvey ID
101 cm22 Jul 2019Culham Weirpool155304
100 cm6 Jul 2003Clifton Hampden - Days (Middle)76447
98.5 cm3 Oct 2016Godstow Weirpool149567
98 cm13 Jul 2009Goring to Whitchurch (Margin)118071
97 cm11 Jul 2004Days - Benson (Margin)80502
97 cm5 Jun 2001Buscot to Grafton79305
96 cm23 Jul 2010Shiplake-marsh - (Margin)123158
96 cm17 Jul 2009Sonning - shiplake (Margin)118284
96 cm24 Jul 2001Hambleden - Hurley (margin)89030
95.5 cm20 Jul 2010Whitchurch (Weirpool)123121

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

Explore the river

Where european eel were found

Each point marks a survey location with at least one european eel 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 european eel
Shiplake-marsh - (Margin)24 Jul 200224 Jul 202515
Roundhouse to St Johns(margins)12 Sept 202412 Sept 20241
Buscot to Grafton5 Jun 200125 Sept 20235
Clifton Hampden - Days (Margin)7 Jul 199423 Jul 20237
Eynsham- kings7 Oct 20227 Oct 20221
Hambleden - Hurley (margin)24 Jul 200127 Jul 202216
Hambleden - Hurley (Weirpool)23 Jul 200327 Jul 202210
Shiplake - Marsh (Weirpool)22 Jul 200326 Jul 20224
Caversham-sonning - (Margin)17 Jul 200125 Jul 202211
Culham Weirpool16 Jul 201122 Jul 20196
Culham - Clifton Hampden (Margin)7 Jul 199822 Jul 20198
Godstow Weirpool3 Oct 20163 Oct 20161
Whitchurch to Mapledurham (Margin)18 Jul 20029 Jul 20167
Iffley - Sandford (Margin)2 Jul 20162 Jul 20161
Days weirpool18 Jul 200819 Jul 20153
Sonning Weir17 Jul 200912 Jul 20133
Sonning - shiplake (Margin)17 Jul 200912 Jul 20135
Abingdon Weirpool3 Jul 20133 Jul 20131
Godstow to Osney26 Oct 201126 Oct 20111
Days - Benson (Margin)8 Jul 199418 Jul 20116
Abingdon - Culham (Margin)6 Jul 199415 Jul 20113
Sandford - Abingdon - (Margin)14 Jul 201114 Jul 20111
Mapledurham Weirpool-Fyke Netting20 Jun 201120 Jun 20111
Hambledon Weirpool-Fyke Netting20 Jun 201120 Jun 20111
Whitchurch (Weirpool)12 Jul 200120 Jul 20106
Goring to Whitchurch (Margin)20 Jul 200819 Jul 20103
Clifton Weir Stream10 Jul 200910 Jul 20091
Marsh - Hambleden (Margin)24 Jul 200824 Jul 20081
Loddon - Confluence to St Pats Stream24 Jul 200824 Jul 20081
Mapledurham Mill Channel22 Jul 200822 Jul 20081
Mapledurham - Caversham (Margin)22 Jul 200822 Jul 20081
Shifford to Newbridge - Windrush Confluence23 Oct 200723 Oct 20071
St Patricks stream16 Nov 200616 Nov 20061
Buscot weir pool6 Oct 20066 Oct 20061
Cleeve-Goring - (Margin)3 Jul 200119 Jul 20065
Cleeve - Goring (Weirpool)14 Jul 200514 Jul 20051
Culham - Clifton Hampden (Middle)4 Jul 20007 Jul 20056
Abingdon - Culham (Middle)13 Jul 19996 Jul 20054
Clifton Hampden - Days (Middle)7 Jul 199410 Jul 20046
Northmoor- Pinkhill12 Jun 200126 Sept 20032
Hambleden - Hurley (middle)24 Jul 200125 Jul 20022
Shiplake-Marsh - (Mid-River)24 Jul 200224 Jul 20021
Caversham-sonning - (Mid River)17 Jul 200123 Jul 20022
Whitchurch - Mapledurham (Middle)12 Jul 200118 Jul 20022
Cleeve-Goring - (Mid River)17 Jul 200217 Jul 20021
Sandford - Abingdon - Middle3 Jul 20003 Jul 20001
Days - Benson (Middle)8 Jul 199421 Jul 19992

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 european eel that year.

Fish measured by surveyors

Measured length distribution

See how the 558 measured fish were spread across different length ranges.

Smallest
34 cm
Lower quarter
66 cm
Median
76 cm
Upper quarter
83 cm
Largest
101 cm

Lengths are direct survey measurements rather than anglers’ catches.

Fish weighed by surveyors

Measured weight summary

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

Lightest
2 lb 14.6 oz (1.32 kg)
Lower quarter
3 lb 4.7 oz (1.5 kg)
Median
3 lb 10.9 oz (1.67 kg)
Upper quarter
4 lb 1.1 oz (1.85 kg)
Heaviest
4 lb 7.3 oz (2.02 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 →