This is an impartial (not biased only to the BRFC) and comprehensive record list of 279 British record freshwater fish, past and present, involving 55 different species/sub-species of fish caught using the traditional angling method of rod and line. Records to include the angler, species, weight, date, venue, also referenced with a recognizable publication. The list is intended to include all categories of fish caught by anglers, that enter freshwater including (coarse and game fish) and some migratory sea fish. Time since last record fish was caught = 41Â days.
Current records
Record Endangered Species
Record Ornamental sub-species
Record non-indigenous (invasive) species
Historical Previous records
Ambiguous record claims not accepted (or expunged)
There have been many ambiguous record claims over the years. Here are a few of those that never made the record list, with the reason why in bold:
- 21Â lb 2oz Barbel caught by Chris Mack on the Wensum 2008. No independent witnesses to the weigh in.
- 38Â lb Ferox Brown Trout caught by old Willie Maule. evidence destroyed by fire.
- 8Â lb Burbot largest ever recorded in England, caught from the river Trent around 1700 - 1800. No date/also method of capture unknown.
- 10Â lb 8oz Chub caught from the River Annan in 1955 by Dr. J. A. Cameron Not authenticated with photo or body scales for examination.
- 4lb 14oz Crucian caught by Howard Reeve at Borwick Lakes Fishery, Carnforth, Lancs, April 2015 Assume failed DNA test.
- 1lb 6oz Dace caught from a Nene tributary Feb 2016 Angler's name unknown and no record claimed.
- 13Â lb 1oz Eel caught by Dave saunders at Idenwood Fishery, East Sussex in 2010 No independent witnesses.
- 9lb Golden Orfe (estimated) caught by Bob Roberts at Anglers Paradise, Devon in Feb 2009. Not weighed. Golden orfe video
- 5Â lb Grayling caught by Dave Williams from the River Severn near Newtown, Wales, in 2010 Captor ate the evidence with chips + No independent witnesses.
- 1lb 3oz 4dr Lamprey (river) caught by S.Clews from River Severn in May 1924 No confirmation this fish was caught by rod and line method.
- 6 lb 4oz Perch caught by angler known as "Bill" from River Thames in March 2014 Assumed reason is lack of independent witnesses.
- Largest ever Pike found dead at River Endrick/Loch Lomond in 1934 Not caught by rod and line.
- 5Â lb 2oz Rudd caught Adrian Cannon from a Fenland Drain 2012. No independent witnesses.
- Unweighed monster Salmon caught in River Ness 2007 Not weighed.
- 22Â lb Zander caught by Mick Dolan at Grafham Water in March 2010. Weighed on a boat.
Video footage of Chub, Carp and Zander records
- Dean Fletcher's 68lb 1oz British record Carp "The Parrot" about to be weighed, January 2016 courtesy of twitter.
- Neill Stephen's 9lb 5oz British record equaling Chub of 2012 at the weigh in, courtesy of YouTube.
- Oz Holness's 67lb 8oz British record Carp "Two Tone" being weighed in, 2008 courtesy of YouTube.
- Dave Lavender's 19lb 5oz 8dr British record Zander of 1998 being weighed (from 53rd minute of video), courtesy of YouTube.
Dangerous Non indigenous (invasive) Alien species
These fish are classed as a significant risk to our native species and if caught must be removed immediately to protect the wider environment and should be reported to the Environment Agency (EA). Anyone found introducing non indigenous (invasive) species to any external body of UK water will be breaching the Import of Live Fish (England and Wales) Act 1980 and will be prosecuted. The fish in question include: Black bullhead Catfish(Ameiurus melas), Doctor fish(Garra rufa), Fathead minnow(Pimephales promelas), Largemouth bass(Micropterus salmoides), Smallmouth bass(Micropterus dolomieu), Siberian sturgeon(Acipenser baerii), Sterlet(Acipenser ruthenus), Topmouth gudgeon(Pseudorasbora parva), Sunbleak (Leucaspius delineatus), Walleye(Sander vitreus).
- Note that this does not apply to non indigenous fish which are included on the main record list which are Carp, Crucian carp, Goldfish, Grass Carp, Orfe, Pumpkinseed, Rainbow trout, Wels Catfish, and Zander, which are now considered to be naturalized.
Notes
- Note 1 see Angling records of Europe.
- Note 2 * - This is possibly one of the many records rejected by the BRFC when it was decided to nullify most of the existing British record fish in the purge of 1968, due to lack of creditable evidence.
- Note 3 This fish is listed as either extinct in the UK only , Critically Endangered species (IUCN) status, Endangered species (IUCN) status , Vulnerable species (IUCN) status , by the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN). If caught, must be reported to the Environment Agency (EA), photographed (include distinctive area landmark if possible) and returned to the water unharmed.
- Note 4 - It is assumed that Wels catfish records were suspended by the BRFC in 2000 due to suspected importation of a fish near to or over the British Record, which could also quite possibly be an infringement of Import of Live Fish (England and Wales) Act 1980.
- Note 5 - No records have been found for Pollan (Coregonus pollan) which are found only in Northern Ireland, listed as an Endangered species (IUCN) status and if caught, must be reported to the Environment Agency (EA), photographed (if possible) and returned to the water unharmed.
- Note 6 - No records have been found for Spined loach (Cobitis taenia).
- Note 7 - See Dangerous non indigenous (invasive) species above
- Note 8 - This record is or was not recognised by the BRFC.
- Note 9 - This chub record is not recognized by the BRFC, however, any species natural to river only will not be recognized when caught in Stillwater, (namely chub, barbel, grayling) as they will be considered as being cultivated in a non-natural environment.