Scottish Coarse Fish Species - Tench
Latin Name - Tinca Tinca
The Tench has a long pedigree in Scotland, introduced several hundred years ago around the same time as the Carp. Very popular with the coarse angler this hard fighting fish is one of the most prized target species in many Scottish stillwaters. The Forth & Clyde canal is a Tench stronghold where large bags to over 100lbs can be taken. There are also many well stocked lochs in the Dumfries and Galloway area where the current record fish was caught.
Scottish Record -
| 10lb 0oz | 4.540 kg | Castle Loch, Lochmaben | P. Crookhall | 2003 |
Picture & Story Of Record Fish Here
|
Weight
|
Rarely 4.5kg (10lb), very few over 5.5kg (12lb). |
|
Length
|
Rarely exceeding 60cm. |
|
Age
|
Maximum 14 years. |
|
Location
|
Lakes, canals and lowland rivers. |
|
Behaviour
|
Mostly solitary, occasionally in small groups. |
|
Preferred
habitat
|
Shallow still water, dense weed, silt substrate. |
|
Feeding
|
May-September, active benthic foraging at dawn and dusk. |
|
Natural
food
|
Zooplankton, benthic invertebrates such as molluscs. |
|
Maturity
|
3-5 years, 20-24°C. |
|
Fecundity
|
300,000-400,000 eggs per kg of body weight. |
|
Spawning
times
|
May-August. |
|
Spawning
|
Dense weed, shallow water, low or no flow. |
|
Migratory
habits
|
Limited home range, localised spawning. |
|
Predators
|
Pike |