Bay Anchovy

Family Engraulidae, ANCHOVIES
Anchoa mitchilli

Description: body relatively deep; head short; snout very short, only slightly overhanging mouth; silvery stripe narrow, often faint or absent toward front; stripe fades after death; body grayish, with few melanophores above; dorsal fin far back – the only U.S. species in which that fin begins above or only very slightly in front of anal fin; 11 to 14 (usually 12 to 13) pectoral fin rays; 23 to 31 (usually 24 to 29) anal fin rays.

Size: to 10 cm (4 in.).

Where found: in shallow bays and estuaries; common in brackish waters, but occurs to 120 ft.

*The Florida records quoted are from the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission and are not necessarily the most current ones. The records are provided as only as a benchmark.