Shad & Herring
Smelt
Osmerus mordax (Rainbow Smelt)
BothOsmeridaeLeast Concern
About
Smelt are slender, silvery fish known for their distinctive cucumber-like odor. They are anadromous, meaning they migrate from saltwater to freshwater to spawn, typically in the spring.
- Average size
- 7-9 inches
- Colors
- Silvery with a pale green back and a white belly. They may have iridescent sides.
- Diet
- Plankton, crustaceans, insect larvae, and small fish.
- Region
- Northeastern United States, Great Lakes region, and Pacific Northwest.