RiverFish

Bullhead · Cottus gobio

Bullhead in the River Wharfe

Largest measured bullhead: 9.6 cm

The largest bullhead measured in Environment Agency surveys of the River Wharfe was 9.6 cm, recorded at Linton Stepping Stones on 13 September 2010.

Across 429 measured bullhead, the median measured length was 5.2 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 Wharfe.

See bullhead records across England →

Most recent observation1 October 2025Starbotton
Largest measured bullhead
9.6 cm
Median length
5.2 cm
Fish measured
429
Survey locations
30

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
9.6 cm13 Sept 2010Linton Stepping Stones123770
9.1 cm2 Sept 2011Linton Stepping Stones128874
9.1 cm2 Sept 2011Linton Stepping Stones128874
9.1 cm13 Sept 2010Linton Stepping Stones123770
8.8 cm2 Sept 2011Linton Stepping Stones128874
8.7 cm2 Sept 2011Linton Stepping Stones128874
8.7 cm25 Jul 2011Appletreewick B (lower site)128891
8.4 cm2 Sept 2011Linton Stepping Stones128874
8.4 cm1 Sept 2011Pool Mill128741
8.3 cm30 Jul 2014Hubberholme142180

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
Starbotton1 Oct 20251 Oct 20251
Redmires13 Jun 20031 Oct 20252
Kettlewell30 Jun 200830 Sept 20253
Boston Spa - Fry Survey21 Sept 198811 Aug 20259
Pool Mill27 Jun 199622 Aug 202415
Tadcaster post 20061 Jul 200820 Aug 20243
Harewood14 Aug 202414 Aug 20241
Netherby (discretionary only)26 Jul 201626 Jul 20161
Ilkley1 Aug 19961 Sept 20147
Appletreewick B (lower site)9 Aug 19965 Aug 20149
Linton Stepping Stones3 Aug 19964 Aug 20149
Conistone d/s14 Aug 19961 Aug 20149
Hubberholme30 Jul 201430 Jul 20141
Castley18 Jul 199624 Jun 201414
Knotford15 Aug 199623 Jun 201410
Buckden Upstream Gravel Trap5 Jun 200212 Sept 20065
Ulleskelf25 Jul 19968 Aug 20066
Tadcaster pre 200624 Jul 199630 Jun 20057
Wetherby Grange12 Aug 199715 Jul 20045
Burley Bypass31 Jul 199614 Jul 20044
Appletreewick A9 Aug 199613 Aug 20036
Addingham8 Aug 199611 Aug 20038
Strid d/s (Bolton Abbey)6 Aug 19967 Aug 20037
Nunnery7 Aug 199628 Jul 20037
Cray Beck Confluence5 Jun 200212 Jun 20032
Cray Beck12 Jun 200312 Jun 20031
Boston Spa19 Jul 199618 Jul 20026
U/s Boston Spa Weir16 Sept 199616 Sept 19982
Collingham26 Jul 199613 Aug 19983
U/s of Lobwood Weir2 Aug 19966 Aug 19983

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

1988–2025

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 429 measured fish were spread across different length ranges.

Smallest
2.4 cm
Lower quarter
3.8 cm
Median
5.2 cm
Upper quarter
6.4 cm
Largest
9.6 cm

Lengths are direct survey measurements rather than anglers’ catches.

More fish in this river

Explore the River Wharfe

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

Minnow Stone loach Brown / sea trout European eel Chub Grayling

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 →