RiverFish

Roach · Rutilus rutilus

Roach in the River Witham

Largest measured roach: 49.1 cm

The largest roach measured in Environment Agency surveys of the River Witham was 49.1 cm, recorded at Thorpe Tilney Road (Witham) on 11 July 1985.

Across 112,333 measured roach, the median measured length was 10.4 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 Witham.

See roach records across England →

Most recent observation13 November 2025Queen Elizabeth Park · 17 fish
Largest measured roach
49.1 cm
Median length
10.4 cm
Fish measured
112,333
Survey locations
42

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
49.1 cm11 Jul 1985Thorpe Tilney Road (Witham)53032
48.9 cm11 Mar 1988Bassingham Upstream Bridge53106
43.2 cm29 Jun 2004Short Ferry (Witham)81687
41.2 cm26 Jul 1988Southrey (Witham)53128
38.8 cm22 Apr 1994Claypole B53260
37.7 cm14 Jun 2000Kirkstead Bridge (Witham)59018
36.6 cm18 Sept 1985Bassingham Upstream Bridge53005
36.2 cm10 Sept 1997Bassingham Upstream Bridge53351
36.2 cm10 Sept 1997Bassingham Upstream Bridge53351
36 cm18 Sept 1985Bassingham Upstream Bridge53005

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
Wyndom Park13 Nov 202513 Nov 20251
Queen Elizabeth Park12 Sept 198513 Nov 20256
Marston Bridge16 Sept 19857 Jun 20248
Haddington Bridge16 Aug 198523 Aug 202315
Sleeper Bridge (Witham)2 Mar 198822 Aug 20238
Upstream Bracebridge Bridge24 Oct 198510 May 201717
Upstream Beckingham Bridge10 Sept 19853 May 201717
Claypole Bridge9 Sept 19852 May 201717
Upstream Foston Ford5 Sept 198525 Apr 201715
Ex Power Station (Witham)1 Jul 198519 Jun 201414
Tattershall Bridge (Witham)15 Jul 19854 Jun 201415
Paper Mill16 May 19913 Sept 20133
Kirks Farm R/B (Witham)22 Jul 198527 Jul 200611
Pelhams Land R/B (Witham)18 Jul 198526 Jul 200610
Short Ferry (Witham)4 Jul 198520 Jul 20068
Five Mile House Bridge (Witham)3 Jul 198518 Jul 20068
Kirkstead Bridge (Witham)10 Jul 198512 Jul 200610
Tunnard Farm (Witham)8 Aug 198829 Jun 20003
Beech House Farm L/B (Witham)17 Jul 198527 Jun 20006
Chapel Hill (Witham)24 Jul 198521 Jun 20006
Thorpe Tilney Road (Witham)11 Jul 198515 Jun 20006
Stixwould (Witham)9 Jul 198513 Jun 20005
Southrey (Witham)8 Jul 198511 Jun 19985
Downstream R/B Beet Factory (Witham)25 Jul 198510 Jun 19985
Upstream R/B Bardney Bridge (Witham)21 Jul 19889 Jun 19983
Greetwell Hall (Witham)2 Jul 19852 Jun 19985
Dixon Street25 Oct 198524 Sept 19974
North Hykeham Bridge23 Oct 198518 Sept 19975
Blackmoor Farm Witham9 Oct 198517 Sept 19972
Bassingham Upstream Bridge18 Sept 198510 Sept 19975
Stapleford11 Sept 198524 Jul 19975
Dry Doddington4 Oct 198511 Jul 19974
A607 Road Bridge4 Mar 198827 May 19973
Great Ponton20 May 199720 May 19971
Claypole B22 Apr 199422 Apr 19941
Barnby22 Jul 199122 Jul 19911
North Witham18 Jun 199118 Jun 19911
Hougham Mill29 Aug 198522 May 19912
Barkston Bridge25 Sept 19857 Mar 19882
Upstream Elinors Weir1 Mar 19881 Mar 19881
Upstream Syston Weir26 Sept 198526 Sept 19851
Hougham Mill - Marston Mill4 Sept 19854 Sept 19851

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

1985–2025

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 112,333 measured fish were spread across different length ranges.

Smallest
0.9 cm
Lower quarter
8.3 cm
Median
10.4 cm
Upper quarter
14.1 cm
Largest
49.1 cm

Lengths are direct survey measurements rather than anglers’ catches.

More fish in this river

Explore the River Witham

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

Dace Gudgeon European eel Perch Pike Stone loach

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 →