RiverFish

Barbel · Barbus barbus

Barbel in the River Trent

Largest measured barbel: 81.3 cm

The largest barbel measured in Environment Agency surveys of the River Trent was 81.3 cm, recorded at Wolseley Brg to Highbridge post pollution Oct 09 on 13 October 2009.

Across 287 measured barbel, the median measured length was 10.8 cm.

Surveyors recorded weights for 23 barbel. The median was 4 lb 10.1 oz (2.1 kg) and the largest recorded weight was 11 lb 14.5 oz (5.4 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 Trent.

See barbel records across England →

Most recent observation19 September 2025Sawley Weir Net · 1 fish
Largest measured barbel
81.3 cm
Median length
10.8 cm
Fish measured
287
Survey locations
26

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
81.3 cm13 Oct 2009Wolseley Brg to Highbridge post pollution Oct 09120326
76 cm18 Sept 2013Mill Lane (Newark Dyke)139797
73 cm13 Oct 2009Wolseley Brg to Highbridge post pollution Oct 09120326
72 cm13 Oct 2009Wolseley Brg to Highbridge post pollution Oct 09120326
72 cm8 Jul 2003Great Haywood76398
71.7 cm7 Jul 2010Yoxall Bridge123090
71.1 cm20 Oct 2009Great Haywood post pollution investigation Oct 09120338
70 cm13 Oct 2009Wolseley Brg to Highbridge post pollution Oct 09120326
69.7 cm20 Oct 2009Great Haywood post pollution investigation Oct 09120338
69.5 cm22 Sept 2016Mill Lane (Newark Dyke)149400

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
Sawley Weir Net19 Sept 202519 Sept 20251
Muskham Bridge Net7 Oct 201118 Sept 20256
Burton - Ferrybridge (match catch)11 Sept 202511 Sept 20251
Holme Net22 Sept 20149 Sept 20258
Essex Bridge - Netting26 Sept 202326 Sept 20231
Kneeton Net3 Oct 201229 Sept 20223
Stoke Bardolph Net4 Sept 201422 Sept 20224
DS Hazelford Weir24 Aug 201824 Aug 20181
North Clifton Net19 Oct 201013 Oct 20172
Mill Lane (Newark Dyke)29 Sept 201122 Sept 20164
Sandy Point19 Sept 201330 Aug 20163
Nether Lock to Cromwell23 May 201623 May 20161
Walton on Trent13 May 20088 Jul 20102
Yoxall Bridge23 Aug 20077 Jul 20103
Great Haywood post pollution investigation Oct 0920 Oct 200920 Oct 20091
River Trent post pollution investigation Oct 09 -15 Oct 200915 Oct 20091
Wolseley Brg to Highbridge post pollution Oct 0913 Oct 200913 Oct 20091
Catton Park post pollution investigation July0916 Jul 200916 Jul 20091
Burton - Newton Solney30 Aug 20072 Jun 20093
Willington13 Aug 200223 Sept 20073
Great Haywood5 Apr 19958 Jul 20033
Aston-By-Stone14 Jul 199914 Jul 19991
Weston11 Apr 19958 Jul 19992
Downstream Park Brook27 Sept 199427 Sept 19941
Upstream Park Brook4 Aug 19944 Aug 19941
Walton-by-Stone15 Jan 199215 Jan 19921

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

1992–2025

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 287 measured fish were spread across different length ranges.

Smallest
2.5 cm
Lower quarter
5.1 cm
Median
10.8 cm
Upper quarter
51.6 cm
Largest
81.3 cm

Lengths are direct survey measurements rather than anglers’ catches.

Fish weighed by surveyors

Measured weight summary

Recorded weights were available for 23 barbel. This is a subset of the measured fish and may not represent the whole population.

Lightest
0.7 oz (0.02 kg)
Lower quarter
3 lb 4.6 oz (1.49 kg)
Median
4 lb 10.1 oz (2.1 kg)
Upper quarter
7 lb 4.9 oz (3.32 kg)
Heaviest
11 lb 14.5 oz (5.4 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 Trent

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

Chub Roach Dace Gudgeon Perch 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 →