Norfolk Fishing Network 2004 - 2024 - British Coarse Fish Species R - Z

Distribution: Native to Europe and Asia. This species has become invasive in parts of continental Europe, Britain and also the Great Lakes in North America.

Features: The ruffe's colors and markings are similar to those of the walleye, an olive-brown to golden-brown color on its back, paler on the sides with yellowish white undersides. The ruffe is usually 4 - 6 inches (10 to 15cm) long and will never exceed 10 in (25 cm), but is a very aggressive fish for its size. The ruffe also has a large, spiny dorsal fin likely distasteful to its predators. It also has two fins on top, the front fin has hard and sharp spines, the back fin has soft spines called rays. The most obvious features to recognize a ruffe are the ruffe's large, continuous dorsal fin and its slightly downturned mouth.

Diet: of the Ruffe is crustaceans, insect larvae and small fish. The growth rate is fairly slow.

> Spawning: Spawning takes place in April until May, the sticky eggs may stretch over weed beds in lacy, interwoven strands. Females can lay upto 200,000 eggs each year, with the young emerging in 10 to 14 days as 3 mm long fry.

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