Fish, carp family
Barbel
- Maximum length
- 100cm
- Maximum weight
- 12kg
- Best water temperature
- 10–20 °C
- Water today (4.1 °C)
- Tolerates it, but slowed down
- Fishing districts near where it occurs
- 7
About the species Barbel
How to recognise it
Elongated body, lower mouth with four barbels and a green-brown back. Strong long pectoral fin.
Where it lives
Gravel stretches of the middle and lower reaches with a good current.
What it feeds on
Insect larvae, worms and molluscs from the bottom.
Spawning
In May and June on gravel shallows.
It stays in the current, and in winter in deeper pools. It is fished near the bottom.
Closed season, minimum size and daily limit
What the Fisheries Act says about barbel. 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 Decree40 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 40 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 It may be out of date or contain an error, and exceptions apply on some waters.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 25 °C), but the water is colder than the ideal 10 to 20 °C. Fish tend to be slower and pickier.
- tolerates 4 to 25 °C
- best 10 to 20 °C
- spawning at 14 to 20 °C
- typical water today 4.1 °C
- Length
- up to 100 cm
- Weight
- up to 12 kg
- Oxygen
- Typical oxygen requirements
- 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).
7 fishing districts in total. Show on map
Similar species
Photo credits
- Barbel: Photo: Neil Phillips from uk, CC BY 2.0, Wikimedia Commons
- Common nase: Photo: André Karwath aka Aka, CC BY-SA 2.5, Wikimedia Commons
- Chub: Photo: Karelj, Public domain, 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.