An acclimatised species, tench are a large fish of slow waters and lakes able to tolerate high levels of turbidity. Weighing up to five kilos (more commonly 1.5kg), tench are bottom feeders eating a range of invertebrates, insects and small fishes. Tench vary in colour from olive green to almost grey. They have fleshy, downturned mouths with a small barbel on each side. A popular sportfish with coarse anglers, tench fight well and can be extremely wary. They will take baits of worm, corn, bread and other cereals. Tench are present in both main islands, but more common in the northern half of the North Island. A licence is required to catch tench.

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