Tench

{
  "id": "98140145-2fd5-4df4-9f40-b4bbc59bc74b",
  "commonName": "Tench",
  "scientificName": "Tinca tinca",
  "slug": "tench",
  "category": "freshwater",
  "aliases": [
    "doctor fish",
    "Doctor Fish",
    "Green Tench",
    "Tinker",
    "Olive Tench",
    "Weatherfish"
  ],
  "description": "The Tench is a fish of heavy, burnished beauty. It is built like a sunken log—broad, deep-bodied, and powerful, with a short, rounded head and tiny scales deeply embedded in its thick, protective skin, which feels almost rubbery to the hand. The overall coloration is a resplendent, dark olive-green or bronze across the back and flanks, fading to a golden or coppery hue on the belly. Its most captivating features are its eyes: small, striking, and often a vibrant blood-orange or crimson red. While typically encountered in the 2-4 lb range, this formidable fighter can push the scales to trophy proportions exceeding 6 or 7 pounds in the right waters, presenting a truly formidable quarry.",
  "imageUrl": "https://media.meridiaoutdoors.com/media/species/tench/main.webp",
  "hero": {
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    "altText": "Tench (Tinca tinca) watercolor",
    "caption": "The Tench is a fish of heavy, burnished beauty.",
    "width": 2400,
    "height": 1340
  },
  "phases": [
    {
      "id": "8f959fba-1171-4b30-97a1-36382be4f2e0",
      "name": "Adult",
      "slug": "adult",
      "description": "The tench is a powerful, bottom-dwelling resident of slow-moving and still waters, where it feeds on invertebrates in the silt. Its life is one of deliberate movement and surprising strength, often found in small groups or as solitary, venerable specimens.",
      "appearance": "Deep-bodied and stout, with a shape reminiscent of a rounded log. The small, deeply embedded scales are covered by a thick, slimy skin that feels rubbery. Coloration is a rich, burnished olive-green or bronze on the back and flanks, fading to a golden or coppery hue on the belly. All fins are dark, with a notably rounded caudal fin. The most distinctive feature is the small eye, which is a vivid blood-orange or crimson red. Average size is 2-4 lbs, with trophies exceeding 6-7 lbs.",
      "triggers": null,
      "habitat": "Weedy, slow-moving or still freshwater bodies like lakes, ponds, canals, and sluggish rivers. Prefers soft, silty bottoms with dense submerged vegetation.",
      "anglersNote": "The classic, hard-fighting quarry sought by specialist and specimen anglers, often requiring patient, fine-tuned tactics.",
      "displayOrder": 0,
      "imageUrl": null,
      "media": null
    }
  ],
  "contentUpdatedAt": "2026-05-09T22:31:11.117Z"
}

[]

[]

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  "title": null,
  "description": "Tench (Tinca tinca) are powerful, bottom-dwelling freshwater fish with distinctive red eyes. Known as doctor fish, they inhabit weedy, slow waters.",
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  "ogDescription": "Meet the Tench, a powerful freshwater bottom-dweller with striking red eyes. Also known as doctor fish, this species offers a formidable fight for specialist anglers.",
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