RiverFish

Bullhead · Cottus gobio

Bullhead in the River Wear

Largest measured bullhead: 10.6 cm

The largest bullhead measured in Environment Agency surveys of the River Wear was 10.6 cm, recorded at River Browney at Holliday Park on 29 September 2009.

Across 92 measured bullhead, the median measured length was 6.2 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 bullhead records across England →

Most recent observation9 September 2025River Wear at Harbour House Farm (c)
Largest measured bullhead
10.6 cm
Median length
6.2 cm
Fish measured
92
Survey locations
79

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
10.6 cm29 Sept 2009River Browney at Holliday Park121098
9.6 cm29 Sept 2009River Browney at Holliday Park121098
9.1 cm29 Sept 2009River Browney at Holliday Park121098
9.1 cm29 Sept 2009River Browney at Holliday Park121098
8.5 cm29 Sept 2009River Browney at Holliday Park121098
8.5 cm29 Sept 2009River Browney at Holliday Park121098
8.5 cm8 Jun 2005River Wear at Durham City (c)89313
8.4 cm21 Sept 2009River Browney at Malton Picnic Site121096
8.4 cm6 Jun 2005River Browney at Honest Lawyer Hotel (c)89352
8.3 cm29 Sept 2009River Browney at Holliday Park121098

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
River Wear at Harbour House Farm (c)20 Aug 20139 Sept 20252
Twizell Burn at Grange Villa5 Sept 20255 Sept 20251
Cong Burn at Chester-le-Street8 Sept 20115 Sept 20253
River Wear at Shincliffe Bridge (c)7 Jun 20054 Sept 20253
River Wear at Durham21 Aug 20134 Sept 20252
River Wear at Jubilee Bridge24 Jun 20033 Sept 20255
River Wear at Gaunless Conf.3 Sept 20253 Sept 20251
River Wear at Escomb #22 Sept 20252 Sept 20251
River Wear at Escomb2 Sept 20252 Sept 20251
River Wear at Witton Bridge1 Sept 20251 Sept 20251
River Wear at Low Harperley18 Sept 20131 Sept 20252
Beechburn Beck Farm18 Aug 202518 Aug 20251
Croxdale Beck at Mill House3 Sept 201314 Aug 20252
Stockley Beck at Weardale Way7 Aug 20257 Aug 20251
Stockley Beck at Goodwell Farm10 Sept 20137 Aug 20252
River Wear at Stanhope Ford2 Sept 200223 Jul 20258
River Wear at Landieu5 Oct 200323 Jul 20253
River Wear Downstream Kingfisher Caravan Bridge4 Oct 202423 Jul 20252
River Wear at Westgate Station4 Sept 200222 Jul 20255
River Wear at Hagbridge5 Oct 200322 Jul 20254
Westernhope Burn3 Sept 200721 Jul 20252
Houselop Beck4 Oct 20039 Jun 20254
River Wear at Page Bank5 Sept 200229 Oct 202410
River Wear at Croxdale17 Oct 201029 Oct 20244
River Wear at Finchale Priory (c)14 Oct 202414 Oct 20241
River Browney at Partridge Close12 Sept 20011 Oct 202412
Stanhope Burn at Stanhope15 Aug 199710 Sept 202413
River Wear at Windy Nook15 Aug 199718 Oct 202313
River Deerness at Waterhouses27 Sept 200311 Oct 20233
River Deerness at Eshwinning13 Jul 201111 Oct 20233
River Browney at Holliday Park18 Sept 200711 Oct 20237
Smallhope Burn at Lanchester11 Jul 201121 Sept 20233
Rippon Burn11 Jul 201121 Sept 20233
River Browney at Hythe9 Sept 200220 Sept 202311
Byerleyhouse Bridge, Abby Burn7 Oct 201720 Sept 20232
River Wear at The Batts6 Sept 20017 Sept 202213
River Browney at Wall Nook25 Aug 200711 Jul 20228
Stockerly Burn at Coal Yard29 Aug 201729 Aug 20171
The Sands18 Jul 201417 Jul 20172
River Deerness at Langley Moor27 Sept 200317 Jul 20173
River Browney at Malton Picnic Site19 Sept 199517 Jul 20174
River Wear at Finchale Priory28 Aug 200711 Oct 20132
Linburn Beck at Witton Castle13 Aug 20072 Sept 20135
River Wear at Chester-le-street Sewage Works20 Aug 201320 Aug 20131
River Wear at Kepier11 Sept 200715 Aug 20125
Pan burn at Partridge Close9 Sept 200213 Aug 20122
Houselop Beck at Bradley28 Sept 200320 Aug 20113
River Browney at West Buttsfield12 Jul 201112 Jul 20111
River Browney at Square House12 Jul 201112 Jul 20111
River Browney at Bear Park18 Sept 200712 Jul 20113
Quick Burn26 Aug 200311 Jul 20112
River Wear at Spring Wood12 Sept 200712 Sept 20071
River Wear at Shincliffe Bridge7 Oct 200311 Sept 20072
River Wear at McNeils19 Sept 19954 Sept 20073
Holywell Beck10 Aug 200710 Aug 20071
River Wear at Stanhope Weir8 Oct 20068 Oct 20061
River Wear at Linburn Beck11 Aug 200611 Aug 20061
River Wear at Eastgate Caravan Site11 Aug 200611 Aug 20061
Houselop Beck at Greenwells24 Jul 200624 Jul 20061
River Wear at Wolsingham (WFD Site)27 Sept 200527 Sept 20051
River Deerness at Ushaw Moor bridge13 Sept 200125 Jul 20055
River Wear at Wadsworth (c)22 Jun 200522 Jun 20051
River Wear at Escomb Weir (c)22 Jun 200522 Jun 20051
River Wear at Willington (c)9 Jun 20059 Jun 20051
River Wear at Bishop Auckland (c)9 Jun 20059 Jun 20051
River Wear at Durham City (c)8 Jun 20058 Jun 20051
River Wear at Springwood (c)7 Jun 20057 Jun 20051
River Wear at Kepier Farm (c)7 Jun 20057 Jun 20051
River Browney at Honest Lawyer Hotel (c)6 Jun 20056 Jun 20051
River Wear at Sunderland Bridge7 Oct 20037 Oct 20031
River Wear at North Wood7 Oct 20037 Oct 20031
Tunstall Burn4 Oct 20034 Oct 20031
Shittlehope Burn4 Oct 20034 Oct 20031
River Wear at Harbour House Farm3 Oct 20033 Oct 20031
River Wear at Finchale Abbey3 Oct 20033 Oct 20031
River Wear at Black Banks15 Aug 199728 Sept 20032
River Wear at Springwood2 Jul 200225 Jun 20032
River Wear at Kepier farm26 Jun 200226 Jun 20021
River Wear at Bishop Auckland28 Aug 200124 Jun 20022

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

1995–2025

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 92 measured fish were spread across different length ranges.

Smallest
2.9 cm
Lower quarter
5 cm
Median
6.3 cm
Upper quarter
7.2 cm
Largest
10.6 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 Minnow Atlantic salmon European eel 3-spined stickleback

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 →