Shad & Herring
Surf Smelt
Hypomesus pretiosus
SaltwaterOsmeridaeNot Evaluated
About
Surf smelt are small, slender fish with a silvery body and a greenish back. They are known for their unique spawning behavior, where they deposit their eggs on sandy beaches during high tides, often at night.
- Average size
- 7-10 inches
- Colors
- Silver, green, iridescent
- Diet
- Plankton, small crustaceans, and larval fish
- Region
- Pacific Coast of North America, from Alaska to California