RiverFish

Roach · Rutilus rutilus

Roach in the River Wensum (central)

Largest measured roach: 37.6 cm

The largest roach measured in Environment Agency surveys of the River Wensum (central) was 37.6 cm, recorded at Swan Rescue on 20 August 1990.

Across 8,039 measured roach, the median measured length was 13.4 cm.

Surveyors recorded weights for 82 roach. The median was 1.5 oz (0.043 kg) and the largest recorded weight was 14.3 oz (0.406 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 Wensum (central).

See roach records across England →

Most recent observation10 September 2025Swanton Morley · 3 fish
Largest measured roach
37.6 cm
Median length
13.4 cm
Fish measured
8,039
Survey locations
36

Individual EA measurements

Largest measured roach

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

LengthSurvey dateSurvey locationSurvey ID
37.6 cm20 Aug 1990Swan Rescue17267
37.2 cm10 Sept 2009Hellesdon Road (Albert's)119291
36.6 cm16 Aug 1990Pinewood17266
36 cm16 Aug 1990Pinewood17266
36 cm26 Jun 1986Upstream Elsing Mill17222
35.8 cm31 Jul 2015Upstream Lenwade Mill145820
35.6 cm5 Oct 2023Hellesdon Road (Albert's)164301
35.3 cm16 Jul 2024Hellesdon Road (Albert's)166536
35.2 cm16 Aug 1990Pinewood17266
34.7 cm23 May 1994Upstream Gt Ryburgh17300

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

Explore the river

Where roach were found

Each point marks a survey location with at least one roach 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 roach
Swanton Morley23 Jun 198610 Sept 202521
Hellesdon Road (Albert's)4 Aug 198615 Aug 202523
Downstream Elsing Mill23 Jun 19867 Aug 202522
Downstream Gt Ryburgh Bridge9 Jun 19861 Aug 202518
Sparham pool, Lyng26 Sept 20136 Sept 20245
Upstream Lenwade Mill1 Jul 198613 Aug 202411
Upstream Bintree Mill12 Jun 198623 Jul 202412
Alders Spinney22 Jul 19868 Sept 202219
Pensthorpe Hall26 May 19947 Aug 20186
County School18 Jun 19866 Aug 20158
U/s Billingford Rd Bridge7 Sept 201028 Sept 20112
Blakes Meadow17 Jul 19869 Oct 20096
Upstream Drayton Green Lane30 Jul 19868 Oct 20097
Downstream Ringland Bridge10 Jul 198630 Sept 20097
Upstream Gt Ryburgh5 Jun 198628 Sept 20095
Downstream Guist Bridge17 Jun 198624 Sept 20095
Attlebridge Hall Farm8 Jul 198623 Sept 20095
Downstream Billingford Bridge16 Jul 19904 Sept 20095
Lyng Pits20 Jun 198627 Sept 20064
Walcis' Hill Meadow6 Oct 20036 Oct 20031
Downstream Attlebridge Bridge7 Jul 198622 Sept 20034
Fish Farm1 Aug 19868 Aug 19973
Edwards & Holmes Yard11 Aug 19866 Aug 19972
Heigham Waterworks14 Aug 19865 Aug 19972
Costessey Pits15 Jul 198624 Jul 19974
Pinewood23 Jul 198617 Jul 19974
Downstream Point Costessey28 Jul 19869 Jul 19974
Downstream Broken Bridges29 Jul 19868 Jul 19974
Walcis Farm30 Jun 19866 Jun 19974
Swan Rescue24 Jul 19865 Jun 19974
Sennowe Park10 Jun 198625 May 19942
Upstream Costessey Mill16 Sept 198621 Aug 19902
Castle Farm20 Jul 199020 Jul 19901
Upstream Paddling Pool13 Aug 198613 Aug 19861
St Martins Close12 Aug 198612 Aug 19861
Upstream Elsing Mill26 Jun 198626 Jun 19861

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

1986–2025

Survey records by year

Each bar shows how many survey visits recorded roach that year.

Fish measured by surveyors

Measured length distribution

See how the 8,039 measured fish were spread across different length ranges.

Smallest
2.2 cm
Lower quarter
9.5 cm
Median
13.4 cm
Upper quarter
17 cm
Largest
37.6 cm

Lengths are direct survey measurements rather than anglers’ catches.

Fish weighed by surveyors

Measured weight summary

Recorded weights were available for 82 roach. This is a subset of the measured fish and may not represent the whole population.

Lightest
0 oz (0.001 kg)
Lower quarter
0.2 oz (0.007 kg)
Median
1.5 oz (0.043 kg)
Upper quarter
5.4 oz (0.1525 kg)
Heaviest
14.3 oz (0.406 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 Wensum (central)

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

Pike Dace European eel Perch Gudgeon Chub

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 →