Fish Intelligence

The well-travelled freshwater biologist and top angler brings you his fascinating weekly insight into the secret lives of fish.

- Dr. IAN WELCH

Q I’ve heard that chub are smarter than other species of fish, because they inspect baits before taking them. How is sh intelligence measured, and can some species be quicker to learn than others? George Howard, via email.

A Intelligence, as it relates to fish, is not easy to quantify, and there is certainly no scientific measure that can be applied to rank different species in a definitive ‘league table of intelligence’.

It is important not to confuse instinct with intelligence. What anglers often attribute as ‘intelligence’ is really nothing of the sort, but is simply instinctive behaviour

that has evolved in response to social situations, such as finding a mate, or to survival, such as foraging and avoiding predators.