Barbel Information And Facts.
Scientific Name: Barbus Barbus
Maximum Weight: 17lb (7.7kg)
Maximum Length: 3ft (90m)
Average Weight Caught: 4lb (1.8kg)
Life Span: 15 Years
The Barbel has four barbels on its face two large ones at the sides of its mouth and two smaller ones at the end of its nose. Its mouth is on the underside of its long nose. It has a pwerful tail and anal fin as it likes to live in fast flowing water. The lower fins are a reddish colour. The dorsal fin has eleven rays.
British Record: 14lb 6oz (1934)
Scottish Record:
Irish Lake:
Irish River:
Welsh Record:
River Derwent Yorkshire
Barbel up to 12lbs
River Severn Shropshire
Double figure Barbel
River Avon Hampshire
Barbel upto 12lb
River Ure Yorkshire
Barbel up to 8lb
River Trent Nottinghamshire
Barbel up to 5lb
The Barbel is a streamlined fish slim and sleek a sign that this fish loves fast flowing rivers. The colours are thise of the family it belongs to the carp family.
THE LIFE CYCLE OF THE BARBEL.
The barbel spawns between May and July where they travel in huge numbers to spawn in the gravel beds. The females make a redd and lay their sticky eggs are fertilised. The females then rest in still waters until they have regained their strength. The young appear dappled and are covered in numerous dark blotches. The young reach maturity after four to five years and they will be anything from 25 - 75 cms in length. In common with other species specimens from the continent are larger and this is no different to in Barbel where they can get up to 20lb in weight this is due to the warmer weather and the longer periods of rich feeding.
BARBEL FEEDING HABITS.
Barbel are ideal bottom feeders with their pointed heads and their down ward facing mouths. The barbels are very sensitive to touch and taste and use these to hunt out insect larvae and other such tasty morsels.
Favourites foods include worms and insect larvae crayfish, shrimps, freshwater mussels and snails. They also love bottom dwelling fish and such prey does not present a problem to the barbel as it has powerful crushing teeth in their throats. The winter means less active feeding from the barbel but come the floodwaters in winter and also early spring then they become highly active due to the animals washed into the river.
Try luncheon meat a tasty treat for the barbel.
The Barbel Vital Statistics.
Knowing Your Barbel.
Barbel Records.
Top Barbel Waters.