Are There Fish In The Thames

So, you’re standing on a bridge over the Thames, looking down at that murky, swirling water. Maybe you’re sipping a coffee, wondering if anything alive could actually survive down there. It’s a fair question, honestly. Is that river just a giant, watery trash chute, or is it secretly teeming with life?

Let’s be real for a second. The Thames has had a rough history. We’re talking “dead as a doornail” level rough. By the 1950s, it was basically a giant open sewer, and the only fish you’d find were the ones floating belly-up.

But here’s the plot twist: yes, there are fish in the Thames. Loads of them. It’s one of the greatest environmental comeback stories you’ve probably never heard. The river was declared “biologically dead” in 1957, and now it’s a fishy metropolis.

Wait, What Kind Of Fish Are We Talking?

Not just the tough, garbage-eating kind. Oh no, we’re talking about serious, respectable fish. Species that would make an angler weep with joy. We’ve got salmon, people. Actual, wild Atlantic salmon, swimming right past the Houses of Parliament.

Think about that. Salmon—those fancy, expensive, jumping-upstream legends—are cruising through a river that used to be a chemical soup. It’s like finding a Rolex in a dumpster. And they’re not alone.

You’ve also got sea trout, bass, flounder, and even eels. Yes, eels. The same slippery guys that wiggle through your nightmares and your jellied eel appetizer. They’re doing just fine down there.

But Isn’t The Water Still… Gross?

I see you squinting. You’re wondering about the color. The Thames is famously brown, but that’s mostly sediment—mud churned up by the tides. It’s not raw sewage (anymore). The water quality has skyrocketed thanks to the Thames Tideway Tunnel—a massive super-sewer that’s basically the river’s superhero cape.

That doesn’t mean you should drink it. Please don’t. But for a fish, it’s a five-star hotel. Scientists have found over 125 species of fish in the Thames estuary. That’s more than you’d find in some tropical reefs. Take that, Great Barrier Reef.

Fish Life Beneath the Thames River - YouTube

And here’s the kicker: they’ve even found seahorses. Yes, seahorses. In England. In a river people joke about being polluted. The Short-snouted Seahorse is now a Thames resident. Imagine the tiny, proud expressions on their little faces.

So, Can You Actually Fish There?

Absolutely. People fish from the banks of the Thames every single day. You’ll see them near Tower Bridge, by the London Eye, or in the quieter upstream stretches. They’re not just casting for laughs—they’re catching.

There are even “catch and release” clubs dedicated to Thames fishing. You can hook a massive bream or a pike while a double-decker bus rumbles by overhead. It’s the most surreal fishing experience you’ll ever have. “Caught a 10-pounder, mate. Right next to the Shard.”

But you need a license. The Environment Agency will come after you with a cheerful but firm clipboard. And please, don’t eat everything you catch. Some fish still have a bit of a chemical aftertaste—let’s call it “local flavor.”

What About The Famous “Fatbergs”?

Ah, you’ve heard about those. The Thames does have fatbergs—disgusting, city-block-long blobs of grease and wet wipes. They’re the river’s dirty little secret. Fish don’t seem to care much, though.

Night Fishing River Thames

Trout will swim right past a fatberg like it’s a weird, lumpy sculpture. Fish are surprisingly unbothered by human nonsense. They just need oxygen and food, and the Thames now delivers both in spades. The fatbergs are more of a plumbing problem than a fish problem.

Pro tip: Don’t google “fatberg while eating lunch.” You’ve been warned.

The Real Question: Why Do We Care So Much?

Because it’s hope, isn’t it? If a river as abused as the Thames can come back to life, maybe we’re not totally doomed. It’s proof that nature fights back when you give it half a chance. We did screw it up, but then we un-screwed it a little.

Every new salmon sighting feels like a victory lap. It’s the river flipping us off and saying, “See? I’m not dead yet, you muppets.” And honestly, that’s worth celebrating. Next time you cross a Thames bridge, give the water a little nod.

Just don’t expect the fish to wave back. They’re busy thriving, right under our noses, in one of the most famous rivers on Earth. Yes, there are fish in the Thames—and they’re doing better than some of us.

So grab a coffee, find a bench, and look for the ripples. Those ripples are little fins, flipping your doubts away. Cheers to that.