Species

Gudgeon

A small, sociable bottom fish with two barbels that searches sand and gravel for food and is often used as a bait fish.

Gobio gobio

Photo: Gilles San Martin, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 2.0, adjusted to 3:2

Spawning: In early summer, at night at 12 to 18 °C; the sticky eggs adhere to plants or stones (general guide, varies by region)
German Red List: not threatened
Typical method: Float fishing with the bait on the bottom
Top bait: Small worm

Plan a day fishing for Gudgeon

How to recognise it

Rounded body with a relatively large head
Underslung mouth with one pair of barbels
Small: usually about 10 cm, rarely over 15 cm

Easily confused with: Can be mistaken for young barbel; the barbel, however, has four barbels.

How to catch it

Methods: Float fishing with the bait on the bottom, Pole fishing

Baits: Small worm, Maggots, Bloodworm (midge larva)

During the day; FishBase describes gudgeon as normally active by day, and when disturbed they shift their activity to times of low light.

Habitat and food

Fast-flowing but also still waters with a gravelly or sandy bed and plant growth, from small mountain streams to large lowland rivers and lakes. It always lives on the bottom.

Insect larvae, molluscs and crustaceans from the bottom.

Size and age

About 10 cm, rarely over 15 cm (Wikipedia). FishBase: max. 21 cm, heaviest published weight 220 g, maximum age 8 years.

Protection and rules

Conservation status: German Red List (freshwater fish 2023): not threatened; Germany bears a high responsibility for its global conservation. IUCN: not threatened (Least Concern, 2023).

Gudgeon: closed season and minimum size by German state

Berlinprotected all year
Brandenburgprotected all year
Schleswig-Holsteinclosed season 01.04. to 30.06.

From the official state fisheries regulations, retrieved 2026-10-11. All rules by state

Check the rules

Closed seasons and minimum sizes are set by each German state and can be stricter for single waters. All rules by state, with the legal source

In the kitchen

Very tasty breaded and pan-fried, but because of its small size it is rarely caught for the table.

Sources (3)

Last checked 2026-10-13. Found a mistake? Write to [email protected].

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