Strange fish in the Thames

[Robert Hooke]

Hello, this is only my second post on WAB. Earlier this week while out with friends and siblings on Thursday we were walking along the Thames in Marlow and we kept catching fish in a net. At the end of the walk we paddled in a stream leading to the main river and in thr stream we caught a small fish which looked like a Blenny (you can see photos in the Unidentified Water Life section of this website). It was about 10cm long - if not a Blenny it looked like a Goby. However we were a long way from the seashore were I would have expected to see Blennys in the rockpools at low tide. Can they live in rivers ? Thanks

[tameblackbirds]

Looks like a Bullheaded fish to me. These are fresh water and do look a little like Blenny.

[Naturenutz]

i think there are a few freshwater fish similar but the colour patterns look like more sea fish like.will be interested to see if anyone can id this. Friend of mine caught 6 species from weymouth pier that all looked very similar,alot of the differences are in the dorsal spines so he tells me.

[sidewalkdoctor]

Bullhead, or Millers Thumb (Cottus gobio)

Probably is a Millers Thumb aka Bullhead.

[Lancashire Lad]

Definitely a Bullhead/Miller's Thumb - Cottus gobio.

They are a freshwater fish of the Sculpin family.

They are bottom dwelling, hence the flat belly and rounded upper body.

They like fast moving water with stony rocky areas under which they spend most of their time. (Hiding out of the way of larger fish & herons etc.).

They are quite a hardy little fish. We used to catch them in the River Ribble during our mis-spent youth. They seemed to be everywhere those days, but not nearly so many nowadays.

Regards,
Mike.

[Dogghound]

Yes 100% Agree with Mike here. Definately a bullhead I know a great river on the North York moors for them.

[tameblackbirds]

As I thought originally