Zander [Species Menu] [Zander articles] Common name: Zander Latin name: Stizostedion lucioperca Record weight: Despite growing to over twice this size in Europe, the British record has only slowly increased to 19lb 5oz 8 drams. This huge fish, caught by D. Lavender from a Fen Drain in 1998 is by far the largest zander ever…

Perch [Species Menu] [Perch articles] Common name: Perch Latin name: Perca fluviatilis Record weight: Five pounds nine ounces caught from a Kent pond in 1985 by Mr J. Shayler. Distribution: Common in rivers lakes and ponds across Europe. Naturally found in England and introduced to Ireland, Scotland and Wales where it has now become widely…

Gudgeon [Species Menu] [Gudgeon articles] Common name: Gudgeon Latin name: Gobio gobio Record weight: 5 ounces caught by Mr D.H. Hull in 1990. Distribution: A common little fish in Europe, where it can be found from the Pyrenees right through to Scandinavia. Like so many coarse fish, gudgeon are only naturally found in the South…

Carp [Species Menu] [Carp articles] Common name: Carp Latin name: Cyprinus carpio Record weight: The current record fish is affectionately known as ‘two-tone’ and is slowly edging towards 60lb. This lovely fish lives in a large gravelpit in Kent called Conningbrook. The current (September 2001) record weight for this fish is 59lb 7oz captured by…

Grayling [Species Menu] [Grayling articles] Common name: Grayling Latin name: Thymallus thymallus Record weight: Despite a record weight of only 4lb 3oz, caught in 1989 by Mr S.R. Lanigan, the grayling is known to grow much larger than this in Europe. Fish of almost ten pounds are possible in some rivers in Northern Europe! Distribution:…

Eel [Species Menu] [Eel articles] Common name: Eel Latin name: Anguilla anguilla Record weight: Although much bigger fish have been caught in fyke nets used by commercial eel fishermen, the rod caught record is a fish of 11lb 2oz caught in 1978 by S. Terry from Kingfisher Lake near Ringwood, Hampshire. Distribution: Eels are amongst…

Tench [Species Menu] [Tench articles] Common name: Tench Latin name: Tinca tinca Record weight: Fifteen pounds, caught by Darren Ward from a Surrey lake in June 2001. Distribution: Because of its economic importance as a food source, tench have been spread right across Europe and Asia by humans. In the UK they can now be…

Rudd [Species Menu] [Rudd articles] Common name: Rudd Latin name: Scardinius erythrophthalmus Record weight: The oldest coarse fish record on the books. Currently held by a fish of 4lb 8oz taken in 1933 by Rev. E. C. Alston from a Norfolk Mere. Distribution: Found throughout Europe, but absent from Iberia. Extends into Northern Asia. Found…

Bream [Species Menu] [Bream articles] Common name: Common bream Latin name: Abramis brama Record weight: Broken several times in 2001, currently the largest specimen is a fish of 18lb 12oz caught from Bawburgh lake in Norfolk. Distribution: Found throughout Europe and into the borders with Asia. Bream are an important commercial species in Eastern Europe…

Dace [Species Menu] [Dace articles] Common name: Dace Latin name: Leuciscus leuciscus Record weight: 1lb 4oz 4 dram. Caught by J. L. Gasson from the Little Ouse River in Norfolk in 1960. Distribution: Once very common in the UK, dace, and particularly large dace, are becoming increasingly rare. Possible reasons for the decline in dace…