Scottish Record Coarse Fish List

Sponsored By:

The Scottish Record Coarse Fish List is vital to the future of coarse fishing in Scotland.  It provides a mechanism for raising general awareness and confirming the variety and value of Scotland’s coarse fish.


Many people catch record fish each year and do not claim a record. Please help us by encouraging anyone you know to make a claim if they are lucky enough to catch that coarse fish of a lifetime.

SCOTTISH RECORD COARSE FISH LIST – as of January 2023

BarbelBarbus barbus17lb 8oz6.577kgRiver ClydeK. S. Gardner2022
BreamAbramis brama17lb 12oz8.051kgCastle Loch, LochmabenC. Williams2023
CarpCyprinus carpio45lb 8oz20.638 kgCastle Loch, LochmabenB Mir2016
CrucianCarassius carassius1lb 9oz710gundisclosed Dumfries & Galloway still waterG. Postlethwaite2013
ChubLeuciscus cephalus6lb 6oz2.891 kgRiver AnnanJ.Whitelaw2014
DaceLeuciscus leuciscus1 lb 3oz 8dr0.553 kgRiver Tweed, ColdstreamG. Keech1979
EelAnguilla anguilla6 lb 2oz2.780 kgUndisclosed Border QuarryJ. King2007
GoldfishCyprinus auratus1 lb 9oz0.709 kgForth & Clyde CanalB. Stevenson1978
GraylingThymalus thymalus3 lb 13oz River ClydeS. Thomson2012
Orfe or IdeLeuciscus idus7 lb 15 ½ oz3.604 kgCulcreuch Castle Loch, FintryM. Cole2005
PerchPerca fluivatilis5 lb 2oz Loch ArdP. Taylor2011
PikeEsox lucius47 lb 11oz21.631 kgLoch LomondT. Morgan1947
RoachRutlius rutilus4 lb 2oz 8dr1.885 kgCulcreuch Castle LochM. Stone2008
TenchTinca tinca10lb 0oz4.540 kgCastle Loch, LochmabenP. Crookhall2003

Powan was deleted from the list in October 1991, and claims are no longer accepted for the Eel record in Scotland, both being protected species.

How to claim a record

Full Rules governing Scottish Record Fish claims and procedures for submitting a claim can be downloaded at http://www.sfca.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2022/06/Rules-and-Procedures-for-submittign-a-claim-for-a-Scottish-Record-Fish.doc.  This document should be read carefully before submitting any claim.  In essence:

  1. No claim will be considered in respect of coarse fish that have been killed, on or after capture. Fish must be returned to the water alive!
  2. The claim should be made on a form available from the Fish Recorder of the Scottish Record Coarse Fish Committee (see link below). The Committee must be satisfied by the evidence that the fish was correctly identified and weighed and was captured by fair angling methods.
  3. The decision of the committee is final, and no correspondence thereafter will be entered into.
  4. New claims will be considered subject to the following minimum requirements –
  • Photographs of the fish must be available.
  • The weighing scales must be calibrated and certified as accurate.
  • Witnesses will assist the claim and, if possible, should be experienced anglers.

Claim Form

Claims for Scottish Records must be submitted on the official form which can be downloaded at http://www.sfca.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2022/06/Scottish-Record-Fish-Claim-Form.doc

Scales Calibration/Certification

Thanks to their kind sponsorship, record claimants can have their scales certified by ‘Reuben Heaton for a fraction of the commercial cost on authorisation by the SFCA Records Officer.  This process involves sending the scales used to weigh the fish to Reuben Heaton who will test them, provide a certificate confirming accuracy/adjustments and return the scales to the claimant.  Full details of the procedure for calibration/certification of scales and an authorisation to use the Reuben Heaton service will be provided to claimants on submission of a correctly completed claim form.

Witness Statement

Claims for Scottish Records must be witnessed, and witnesses will be sent a pro-forma to complete and return by the SFCA Fish Recorder.  To enable claimants and witnesses to see what is required the pro-forma can be downloaded at http://www.sfca.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2022/06/Witness-pro-forma-Scottish-Record-Fish-Claim.doc

Information

Any information required in relation to the Scottish Record Coarse Fish List, or requests for assistance with completing a claim form, should be directed to the Fish Recorder for the Scottish Record Coarse Fish Committee, by email at records@sfca.co.uk