Fish, carp family
Roach
- Maximum length
- 50cm
- Maximum weight
- 1,8kg
- Best water temperature
- 12–24 °C
- Water today (4.1 °C)
- Tolerates it, but slowed down
- Fishing districts near where it occurs
- 39
About the species Roach
How to recognise it
Silver body, red iris and reddish fins. The scales are fairly large.
Where it lives
Almost all still and flowing waters.
What it feeds on
Omnivore: insects, algae, plants, plankton.
Spawning
In April and May on plants.
The most common fish of beginner anglers. It is caught on float tackle with a worm, bread or sweetcorn.
Closed season, minimum size and daily limit
What the Fisheries Act says about roach. For guidance only; check it in the fishing regulations of the district.
Minimum size
§ 12 of the Decreeno minimum size
The regulation lists this species among species with no minimum size. The user of the fishing district may set the size limit; the one in the permit and the angling rules 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 It may be out of date or contain an error, and exceptions apply on some waters.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 (2 to 28 °C), but the water is colder than the ideal 12 to 24 °C. Fish tend to be slower and pickier.
- tolerates 2 to 28 °C
- best 12 to 24 °C
- spawning at 10 to 15 °C
- typical water today 4.1 °C
- Length
- up to 50 cm
- Weight
- up to 1.8 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).
- OR Patkový Piesok
- OR Hámre
- Štrkovisko Adamov č. 1
- Štrkovisko Adamov č. 2
- Štrkovisko Oširíd
- Štrkovisko u Janíčkov
- Morava č. 7b
- Štrkovisko Boričky I.
- Štrkovisko Brodské
- Štrkovisko Unín
- Dudváh č. 1
- OR Melečka č. 1
- OR Melečka č. 2
- Štrkovisko Lúčky
- Myjava č. 1
- Myjava č. 2a
- OR Pasienok
- Štrkovisko Roličky
- Štrkovisko Šoporňa
- VN Kráľová
- Štrkovisko Kráľová nad Váhom
- Štrkovisko Drahy
- Morava č. 6
- Nitra č. 3
- Poprad č. 11
- Štrkovisko Dolná Tehelňa Pezinok
- Teplica č.1 (Turč. Teplice)
- Turiec č. 2(Turčian. Teplice)
- VN Viničné
- VN Zadný Šúr
- OR Malá Hangócka
- OR Veľká Hangócka
- Štrkovisko Kúty
- Dunaj č. 2
- Gidra č. 1a
- VN Modra – Kráľová
39 fishing districts in total, 36 shown. Show on map
Similar species
Photo credits
- Roach: Photo: Scardinius_erythropthalmus1_resize.jpg: Original uploader was Algirdas at lt.wikipedia…, CC BY-SA 3.0, Wikimedia Commons
- Chub: Photo: Karelj, Public domain, Wikimedia Commons
- Common bream: Photo: Микова Наталия, Public domain, Wikimedia Commons
- Rudd: Photo: George Chernilevsky, Public domain, Wikimedia Commons
- Bleak: Photo: Harka, Akos, CC BY 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.