RiverFish

Ruffe · Gymnocephalus cernuus

Ruffe in the River Witham

Largest measured ruffe: 40.7 cm

The largest ruffe measured in Environment Agency surveys of the River Witham was 40.7 cm, recorded at Short Ferry (Witham) on 4 June 1998.

Across 3,277 measured ruffe, the median measured length was 8.3 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 Witham.

See ruffe records across England →

Most recent observation10 May 2017Upstream Bracebridge Bridge · 15 fish
Largest measured ruffe
40.7 cm
Median length
8.3 cm
Fish measured
3,277
Survey locations
27

Individual EA measurements

Largest measured ruffe

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

LengthSurvey dateSurvey locationSurvey ID
40.7 cm4 Jun 1998Short Ferry (Witham)53396
15.9 cm13 Sept 2011Paper Mill128418
15.8 cm20 May 1997Paper Mill53341
15.4 cm4 Jun 1998Short Ferry (Witham)53396
15.4 cm16 May 1988Dry Doddington53102
15 cm8 Aug 1988Tunnard Farm (Witham)53137
14.8 cm19 Sept 1991Short Ferry (Witham)53226
14.7 cm19 Sept 1991Short Ferry (Witham)53226
14.7 cm16 May 1988Dry Doddington53102
14.6 cm1 Oct 2007Paper Mill107210

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

Explore the river

Where ruffe were found

Each point marks a survey location with at least one ruffe 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 ruffe
Upstream Bracebridge Bridge24 Oct 198510 May 201715
Tattershall Bridge (Witham)15 Jul 19854 Jun 201410
Paper Mill20 May 199713 Sept 20113
Ex Power Station (Witham)1 Jul 198528 Jun 201011
Haddington Bridge16 Aug 19854 Sept 20085
Pelhams Land R/B (Witham)18 Jul 198526 Jul 20069
Short Ferry (Witham)4 Jul 198520 Jul 20068
Five Mile House Bridge (Witham)3 Jul 198518 Jul 20067
Kirks Farm R/B (Witham)22 Jul 198525 Jul 20057
Kirkstead Bridge (Witham)10 Jul 198512 Jul 20058
Upstream Foston Ford11 Jun 200311 Jun 20031
Tunnard Farm (Witham)8 Aug 198829 Jun 20002
Thorpe Tilney Road (Witham)11 Jul 198518 Jun 19985
Southrey (Witham)8 Jul 198511 Jun 19985
Downstream R/B Beet Factory (Witham)25 Jul 198510 Jun 19985
Upstream R/B Bardney Bridge (Witham)13 Jun 19949 Jun 19982
Greetwell Hall (Witham)2 Jul 19852 Jun 19985
North Hykeham Bridge23 Oct 198518 Sept 19973
Blackmoor Farm Witham9 Oct 198517 Sept 19972
Dixon Street27 Sept 199427 Sept 19941
Beech House Farm L/B (Witham)17 Jul 19854 Jul 19944
Chapel Hill (Witham)24 Jul 198529 Jun 19942
Stixwould (Witham)9 Jul 198522 Jun 19944
Dry Doddington16 May 198828 Apr 19942
Bassingham Upstream Bridge18 Sept 198523 Jul 19913
Upstream Beckingham Bridge10 Sept 198511 Apr 19882
Stapleford11 Sept 198511 Sept 19851

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

1985–2017

Survey records by year

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

Fish measured by surveyors

Measured length distribution

See how the 3,277 measured fish were spread across different length ranges.

Smallest
3 cm
Lower quarter
7 cm
Median
8.3 cm
Upper quarter
9.6 cm
Largest
40.7 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 Roach Gudgeon European eel Perch Pike

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 →