RiverFish

3-spined stickleback · Gasterosteus aculeatus

3-spined stickleback in the River Wear

Largest measured 3-spined stickleback: 5 cm

The largest 3-spined stickleback measured in Environment Agency surveys of the River Wear was 5 cm, recorded at Durham - Fry Survey on 26 September 1994.

Across 14 measured 3-spined stickleback, the median measured length was 3.8 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 Wear.

See 3-spined stickleback records across England →

Most recent observation9 September 2025River Wear at Harbour House Farm (c)
Largest measured 3-spined stickleback
5 cm
Median length
3.8 cm
Fish measured
14
Survey locations
47

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 cm26 Sept 1994Durham - Fry Survey130715
4.8 cm26 Sept 1994Durham - Fry Survey130715
4.7 cm26 Sept 1994Durham - Fry Survey130715
4.1 cm26 Sept 1994Durham - Fry Survey130715
3.9 cm24 Sept 2008River Browney at Bear Park114785
3.9 cm26 Sept 1994Durham - Fry Survey130715
3.8 cm18 Sept 2000Shincliffe - Fry Survey130859
3.8 cm26 Sept 1994Durham - Fry Survey130715
3.7 cm29 Sept 1995Shincliffe - Fry Survey130856
3.6 cm26 Sept 1994Durham - Fry Survey130715

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
River Wear at Harbour House Farm (c)20 Aug 20139 Sept 20252
River Wear at Harbour House9 Sept 20259 Sept 20251
River Wear at Shincliffe Bridge (c)4 Sept 20254 Sept 20251
River Wear at Durham21 Aug 20134 Sept 20252
River Wear at Escomb #22 Sept 20252 Sept 20251
River Wear at Escomb2 Sept 20252 Sept 20251
Beechburn Beck Farm2 Sept 201318 Aug 20252
Stockley Beck at Weardale Way7 Aug 20257 Aug 20251
Stockley Beck at Goodwell Farm7 Aug 20257 Aug 20251
Croxdale Beck at Tursdale House17 Aug 20067 Aug 20254
Bell Burn at Vinovium31 Jul 202531 Jul 20251
River Wear at Page Bank5 Sept 200229 Oct 202410
River Wear at Croxdale9 Aug 200929 Oct 20245
River Wear at Gaunless Conf.8 Oct 20248 Oct 20241
River Deerness at Langley Moor13 Jul 201111 Oct 20233
Oakley Cross Beck at West Auckland27 Sept 202327 Sept 20231
Stockerly Burn at Coal Yard29 Aug 201721 Sept 20232
Smallhope Burn at Lanchester11 Jul 201121 Sept 20233
River Browney at Wall Nook25 Aug 200711 Jul 20226
The Sands17 Jul 201717 Jul 20171
River Browney at Malton Picnic Site17 Jul 201717 Jul 20171
River Browney at Holliday Park13 Jul 201117 Jul 20173
Cong Burn at Chester-le-Street16 Jul 201716 Jul 20171
River Wear at The Batts12 Jul 201712 Jul 20171
River Wear at Finchale Priory11 Oct 201311 Oct 20131
Kelloe Beck at Coxhoe East House22 Aug 200710 Sept 20132
Valley Burn at Tudhoe Grange3 Sept 20133 Sept 20131
Holywell Beck3 Sept 20133 Sept 20131
Coundon Burn2 Sept 20132 Sept 20131
River Wear at Chester-le-street Sewage Works20 Aug 201320 Aug 20131
River Deerness at Eshwinning13 Jul 201113 Jul 20111
River Browney at West Buttsfield12 Jul 201112 Jul 20111
River Browney at Bear Park17 Sept 200312 Jul 20114
River Wear at Kepier17 Oct 201017 Oct 20101
Beechburn Beck at Low Wadsworth Farm16 Jul 200816 Jul 20081
Cong Burn at Pig Farm27 Aug 200727 Aug 20071
River Browney at Honest Lawyer Hotel (c)6 Jun 20056 Jun 20051
River Wear at Sunderland Bridge7 Oct 20037 Oct 20031
River Wear at Shincliffe Bridge7 Oct 20037 Oct 20031
River Wear at Harbour House Farm3 Oct 20033 Oct 20031
Linburn Beck at Diddridge Farm28 Sept 200328 Sept 20031
River Browney at Witton Gilbert27 Aug 200327 Aug 20031
River Wear at Springwood2 Jul 200225 Jun 20032
River Wear at Bishop Auckland28 Aug 200128 Aug 20011
Shincliffe - Fry Survey29 Sept 199518 Sept 20004
Harbour House - Fry Survey8 Oct 19978 Oct 19971
Durham - 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 14 measured fish were spread across different length ranges.

Smallest
2.5 cm
Lower quarter
3.5 cm
Median
3.8 cm
Upper quarter
4.1 cm
Largest
5 cm

Lengths are direct survey measurements rather than anglers’ catches.

More fish in this river

Explore the River Wear

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

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

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 →