Scottish Coarse Fish Species - Dace
Latin Name - Leuciscus Leuciscus
The Dace is well established in a number of Scottish rivers most notably the lower reaches of the Clyde and the Forth. Both these rivers are home to huge shoals of Dace which seem to have colonised quicker than the Roach. The Tweed, Endrick and Leven are other examples of rivers where the Dace is common and they are also present in other South-Western and Border rivers.
Scottish Record -
| 1 lb 3oz 8dr | 0.553 kg | River Tweed, Coldstream | G. Keech | 1979 |
|
Weight
|
Rarely 0.40kg (14oz), very few over 0.51kg (1lb 2oz). |
|
Length
|
Rarely exceed 26cm. |
|
Age
|
Maximum 10 years. |
|
Location
|
Rivers. |
|
Behaviour
|
Shoaling, usually in large numbers. |
|
Preferred
habitat
|
Fast-flowing water, sand or gravel substrate. |
|
Feeding
|
All year, intense at dawn and dusk. Take drifting food items. |
|
Natural
food
|
Insect larvae, aerial insects. |
|
Maturity
|
3-4 years. |
|
Fecundity
|
6,500 – 9,500 eggs for 20cm females. |
|
Spawning
times
|
March-April, 9-10°C, single spawning. |
|
Spawning
|
Gravel, typically 10-40mm diameter. |
|
Migratory
habits
|
Large home range, localised feeding migrations. |
|
Predators
|
Pike, Perch, Chub and Trout. |