Osmeridae

surf smelt

Hypomesus pretiosus

Elongated Osmerid Fish from Western Pacific

• Temperate
• Regional distribution
• Pacific Ocean
• North America
• Elongated
• Medium
• Temperate fish

Hypomesus pretiosus, or surf smelt, is a marine smelt with a range from Prince William Sound, Alaska to Long Beach, California, although its population declines south of San Francisco. The surf smelt grows to be about 10 inches in southern waters, and 83⁄4 inches in northern waters near Canada. On average, surf smelt weigh about 10 to the pound.