Fish, carp family
Tench
- Maximum length
- 70cm
- Maximum weight
- 7,5kg
- Best water temperature
- 18–26 °C
- Water today (4.1 °C)
- Tolerates it, but slowed down
- Fishing districts near where it occurs
- 23
About the species Tench
How to recognise it
Thick body covered in mucus with very tiny scales, orange eyes and a short barbel at the corners of the mouth.
Where it lives
Overgrown still waters with a soft, muddy bottom.
What it feeds on
Insect larvae, worms and molluscs.
Spawning
From May to July in warm water.
It is most active at dawn and in the warm summer months. It is fished near the bottom.
Closed season, minimum size and daily limit
What the Fisheries Act says about tench. For guidance only; check it in the fishing regulations of the district.
Closed season
§ 10 of the Decree- 15 Mar – 31 May
this species may not be fishedoutside this period
It does not depend on the closed season for all fish by water type. You can find this and the other rules on the fishing district page in the Law and fishing rules section.
Minimum size
§ 12 of the Decree30 cm
below the size limit: return it to the waterfrom the size limit: you may keep it
You must not keep a fish shorter than 30 cm. The total length is measured from the front of the head to the end of the longest ray of the tail fin (§ 12, para. 4). The district user may raise the size; the one in the permit and the fishing regulations applies.
Daily limit
§ 14 of the Decree- 2ksGreen groupeel, carp, burbot, zander, pike, tench, barbel, lake brown trout, brown trout, grayling (combined)
The limit applies per day, also when fishing in several districts. The district user may set a lower limit in the permit, in which case the stricter one applies.
Summary of Act no. 216/2018 Coll. and Decree no. 381/2018 Coll. (as of 6 Nov 2026). It may be out of date or contain an error, and exceptions apply on some waters. The permit and the fishing regulations of the district are binding. The fishing law, rule by rule.
Water temperature and requirements
At what temperature the species is active and how well today's water suits it.
Tolerates it, but slowed downTypical water in Slovakia is 4.1 °C today. The species tolerates this temperature (4 to 30 °C), but the water is colder than the ideal 18 to 26 °C. Fish tend to be slower and pickier.
- tolerates 4 to 30 °C
- best 18 to 26 °C
- spawning at 19 to 24 °C
- typical water today 4.1 °C
- Length
- up to 70 cm
- Weight
- up to 7.5 kg
- Oxygen
- Tolerates low oxygen
- Position in the food chain
- 3,0omnivore and small animals
The values are indicative and come from the FishBase database. In a particular water, fish behave according to the weather, air pressure, oxygen and food.
Where it was recorded
Fishing districts around which a record of this species exists (GBIF).
- Štrkovisko Oširíd
- Štrkovisko u Janíčkov
- Dudváh č. 1
- OR Melečka č. 1
- OR Melečka č. 2
- Štrkovisko Lúčky
- Dunaj č. 3
- OR Pasienok
- Štrkovisko Roličky
- Štrkovisko Šoporňa
- Čierna voda č. 3
- Dunaj č. 3 – prívodný kanál VD
- VN Kráľová
- Štrkovisko Veľký Biel
- Štrkovisko Kráľová nad Váhom
- Štrkovisko Horný Bar
- Strieborné jazerá Senec
- Dunaj č. 3 ľavostranný priesakový kanál VD
- Lakšár
- Odpadový kanál č.2 "Čekr"
- Dunaj č. 3 – OR horná inundácia
- Dunaj č. 3 pravostranný priesakový kanál VD
- Štrkovisko Holice
23 fishing districts in total. Show on map
Similar species
Photo credits
- Tench: Photo: Karelj, Public domain, Wikimedia Commons
- Crucian carp: Photo: Viridiflavus, CC BY-SA 3.0, Wikimedia Commons
- Common carp: Photo: George Chernilevsky, CC BY-SA 3.0, Wikimedia Commons
Minimum sizes, protection periods and permitted fishing methods are set by the fishing regulations and the conditions of the specific fishing district. Check them before you fish.