RiverFish

European eel · Anguilla anguilla

European eel in the River Wear

Largest measured european eel: 76 cm

The largest european eel measured in Environment Agency surveys of the River Wear was 76 cm, recorded at River Browney at Hythe on 7 August 2008.

Across 1,008 measured european eel, the median measured length was 29.3 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 european eel records across England →

Most recent observation9 September 2025River Wear at Harbour House Farm (c) · 4 fish
Largest measured european eel
76 cm
Median length
29.3 cm
Fish measured
1,008
Survey locations
62

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
76 cm7 Aug 2008River Browney at Hythe112612
71.2 cm8 Aug 2010River Wear at Wearhead124550
71 cm23 Jul 2025River Wear at Landieu177713
70 cm23 Jul 2025River Wear Downstream Kingfisher Caravan Bridge177715
69 cm22 Jul 2025River Wear at Westgate Station177577
67.5 cm13 Jul 2011River Deerness at Eshwinning129120
64 cm18 Aug 2025Beechburn Beck Farm178759
64 cm22 Jul 2025River Wear at Westgate Station177577
64 cm6 Jul 2022River Wear at Wearhead161761
62 cm16 Jul 2025River Wear at Wearhead178967

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
River Wear at Harbour House Farm (c)8 Jun 20059 Sept 20252
River Wear at Harbour House28 Aug 20079 Sept 20252
Twizell Burn at Grange Villa16 Sept 20135 Sept 20252
Cong Burn at Chester-le-Street17 Jul 20075 Sept 20256
River Wear at Shincliffe Bridge (c)4 Sept 20254 Sept 20251
River Wear at Durham21 Aug 20134 Sept 20252
River Wear at Jubilee Bridge24 Jun 20033 Sept 20253
Beechburn Beck Farm18 Aug 202518 Aug 20251
Stockley Beck at Weardale Way10 Sept 20077 Aug 20252
River Wear at Landieu18 Sept 199523 Jul 20253
River Wear Downstream Kingfisher Caravan Bridge4 Oct 202423 Jul 20252
River Wear at Westgate Station15 Aug 199722 Jul 20256
Westernhope Burn3 Oct 200321 Jul 20253
River Wear at Wearhead15 Sept 199516 Jul 20258
Burnhope burn Upstream Wearhead Conf.10 Sept 202416 Jul 20252
River Wear at Finchale Priory (c)7 Jun 200512 Jun 20253
Houselop Beck4 Oct 20039 Jun 20252
River Wear at Page Bank6 Sept 200129 Oct 202410
River Wear at Croxdale17 Aug 200629 Oct 20246
River Wear at Witton Bridge8 Oct 20248 Oct 20241
Linburn Beck at Witton Castle13 Aug 20071 Oct 20246
Stanhope Burn at Stanhope15 Aug 199710 Sept 202411
River Browney at Holliday Park13 Jul 201111 Oct 20234
Cong Burn at Pig Farm8 Sept 201221 Sept 20233
River Browney at Wall Nook27 Aug 200311 Jul 20222
River Wear at Windy Nook15 Aug 19978 Jul 202211
River Wear at Stanhope Ford15 Sept 19957 Jul 20228
Valley Burn at Tudhoe Grange3 Sept 201328 Oct 20192
The Sands18 Jul 201417 Jul 20172
River Wear at The Batts7 Aug 199717 Jul 20146
River Wear at Finchale Priory28 Aug 200711 Oct 20134
River Wear at Low Harperley18 Sept 201318 Sept 20131
River Wear at Hagbridge6 Aug 199728 Aug 20132
River Wear at Cowshill23 Aug 201323 Aug 20131
River Wear at Escomb #222 Aug 201322 Aug 20131
River Wear at Escomb22 Aug 201322 Aug 20131
River Wear at Chester-le-street Sewage Works20 Aug 201320 Aug 20131
River Wear at Kepier11 Sept 200715 Aug 20125
Burnhope Burn at Wearhead8 Aug 20128 Aug 20121
Houselop Beck at Bradley28 Sept 200320 Aug 20113
River Deerness at Langley Moor13 Jul 201113 Jul 20111
River Deerness at Eshwinning13 Jul 201113 Jul 20111
River Browney at Hythe7 Aug 20087 Aug 20081
River Wear at Spring Wood12 Sept 200712 Sept 20071
River Wear at Shincliffe Bridge24 Jun 200311 Sept 20072
River Wear at Wadsworth (c)22 Jun 200522 Jun 20051
River Wear at Escomb Weir (c)22 Jun 200522 Jun 20051
River Wear at Chester New Bridge (c)14 Jun 200514 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 Browney at Honest Lawyer Hotel (c)6 Jun 20056 Jun 20051
River Browney at Burnigill Farm (c)6 Jun 20056 Jun 20051
River Wear at Sunderland Bridge7 Oct 20037 Oct 20031
River Wear at Harbour House Farm25 Jun 20023 Oct 20033
River Wear at Finchale Abbey26 Jun 20023 Oct 20033
River Deerness at Waterhouses27 Sept 200327 Sept 20031
River Wear at Springwood2 Jul 200225 Jun 20032
River Wear at Kepier farm26 Jun 200225 Jun 20032
River Wear at Bishop Auckland28 Aug 200124 Jun 20033
River Wear At Chester-le Street16 Jun 200316 Jun 20031

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 european eel that year.

Fish measured by surveyors

Measured length distribution

See how the 1,008 measured fish were spread across different length ranges.

Smallest
4.8 cm
Lower quarter
21.9 cm
Median
29.3 cm
Upper quarter
36 cm
Largest
76 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 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 →