Surf Smelt
Hypomesus pretiosus
Surf smelt are small, slender fish that inhabit nearshore Pacific waters. They are an important forage fish for larger predators and are occasionally caught by anglers.
Surf Smelt at a glance
- Scientific name
- Hypomesus pretiosus
- Typical size
- 4-8 inches, less than 1 lb
- Water
- Saltwater
- Habitat
- Inshore
- Rarity in the Fishdex™
- Common
Habitat
Surf smelt live in shallow coastal waters and sandy beaches along the Pacific coast. They are typically caught by beach seining or small hook and line fishing from shore, often during their spawning runs on sandy beaches.
Catch one and it is yours
Log a surf smelt through the Cobia Camera and this entry fills in with your photo, your personal best, and the exact conditions on the day. The app also carries the slot and season rules for wherever you are standing.
How the Fishdex™ worksSurf Smelt questions people ask
Surf Smelt is Hypomesus pretiosus.
A typical surf smelt runs 4-8 inches, less than 1 lb. Cobia records the length and weight of every surf smelt you log and keeps your personal best on its Fishdex entry.
Surf smelt live in shallow coastal waters and sandy beaches along the Pacific coast. They are typically caught by beach seining or small hook and line fishing from shore, often during their spawning runs on sandy beaches. It is a salt water species, filed under inshore in the Fishdex.
Yes. Log one through the Cobia Camera and this entry fills in with your own photo, your personal best, and the conditions on the day you caught it. The app also carries the slot limits and season dates for wherever you are standing. It is free.
Tomorrow morning starts tonight
Set your home water, pick a drive radius, and wake up to a plan.
Android coming soon
iPhone, iOS 17 or later. Setup takes about a minute.