Species
Tench
An olive-green, slimy bottom fish with red eyes that bites cautiously and loves warm, weedy waters.
Tinca tinca
Photo: Karelj, Wikimedia Commons, Public domain, adjusted to 3:2
- Spawning
- April to June, from around 18 °C water temperature (general guide, varies by region)
- German Red List
- not threatened
- Typical method
- Float fishing (lift method)
- Top bait
- Brandling (manure worm)
How to recognise it
- Dark olive green with very small scales and a thick layer of slime
- Two short barbels at the thick-lipped mouth
- Deep tail root with an almost straight tail fin
How to catch it
Methods: Float fishing (lift method), Bottom fishing
Baits: Brandling (manure worm), Maggots, Casters, Sweetcorn
Dawn and dusk in summer, close to reeds and water lilies.
Habitat and food
Slow-flowing and still waters rich in plants with a soft bottom, including small ponds. It copes well with low oxygen.
Small creatures on the bottom such as insect larvae and snails, plus algae growth.
Size and age
Usually 20 to 40 cm; maximum weights of 7.5 kg are documented (Wikipedia, FishBase).
Protection and rules
Tench: 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).
- Baden-Württembergminimum size 25 cm · closed season 15.05. to 30.06.
- Bavariaminimum size 26 cm · closed season 01.05. to 30.06.
- Berlinminimum size 25 cm
- Brandenburgminimum size 25 cm
- Hamburgminimum size 25 cm
- Hessekeep only from 25 to 45 cm · closed season 01.05. to 30.06.
- Mecklenburg-Western Pomeraniaminimum size 25 cm
- North Rhine-Westphaliaminimum size 25 cm
- Rhineland-Palatinateminimum size 25 cmminimum size 25 cm · closed season 01.03. to 14.06. only in some waters
- Saarlandminimum size 25 cmminimum size 25 cm · closed season 01.03. to 14.06. only in some waters
- Saxonyminimum size 25 cm
- Saxony-Anhaltminimum size 25 cm
- Schleswig-Holsteinminimum size 25 cm
- Thuringiaminimum size 25 cm
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
Firm, low-fat flesh with few bones, considered tastier than carp; good pan-fried or steamed.
Sources (3)
- de.wikipedia.org/wiki/Schleie
- fishbase.se/summary/Tinca-tinca.html
- rote-liste-zentrum.de/detail/pdf/91316
Last checked 2026-10-18. Found a mistake? Write to [email protected].
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