Species
Roach
A common shoaling fish with a bright red iris, easy to catch and so the classic fish for beginners.
Rutilus rutilus
Photo: George Chernilevsky, Wikimedia Commons, Public domain, adjusted to 3:2
- Spawning
- April to May (general guide, later in some regions)
- German Red List
- not threatened
- Typical method
- Float fishing
- Top bait
- Maggots
How to recognise it
- Bright red iris
- Silvery flanks, reddish pelvic and anal fins
- Terminal mouth, pelvic and dorsal fins at the same level
Easily confused with: Looks very much like the rudd: the rudd has an upturned mouth and a pelvic fin set slightly further forward.
How to catch it
Methods: Float fishing, Pole fishing, Feeder fishing
Baits: Maggots, Sweetcorn, Bread flake, Redworm
Almost all year round, good in spring and autumn; in winter in deeper, calm areas.
Habitat and food
Almost everywhere: lakes, ponds, rivers, canals and harbours into brackish water. Only avoids cold, fast trout streams and clear mountain lakes.
Zooplankton, worms, insect larvae, small snails and mussels as well as water plants.
Size and age
Common length around 25 cm; FishBase gives a maximum of 50.2 cm, a heaviest published weight of 1.8 kg and a maximum age of 14 years.
Protection and rules
Roach: closed season and minimum size by German state
These rules apply in Germany only. Fishing in the UK, the USA or elsewhere? The local rules apply there (link below).
- Berlinno minimum size, no closed season
- Rhineland-Palatinateminimum size 15 cmminimum size 15 cm · closed season 01.03. to 14.06. only in some waters
- Saarlandminimum size 15 cm · closed season 01.03. to 14.06. only in some waters
From the official state fisheries regulations, retrieved 2026-10-11. All rules by state
In Germany, closed seasons and minimum sizes are set by each state and can be stricter for single waters. All German rules by state, with the legal source. Outside Germany, the local rules apply: licence and agency by country.
In the kitchen
Tastes delicate but has many fine bones; score it, deep-fry it or turn it into fish cakes.
Sources (3)
- de.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rotauge
- fishbase.se/summary/Rutilus-rutilus.html
- rote-liste-zentrum.de/detail/pdf/91287
Last checked 2026-10-18. Found a mistake? Write to [email protected].
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