Northern Anchovy

The Northern Anchovy is a small, slender pelagic fish in the family Engraulidae, found along the eastern Pacific coast from British Columbia to Baja California. It is closely related to other anchovy species worldwide and is easily recognized by its long, pointed snout and disproportionately large mouth. Northern Anchovies form dense schools in coastal and offshore surface waters and are one of the most important forage fish within the California Current ecosystem. Populations fluctuate over multi-decade cycles somewhat inversely to Pacific Sardine abundance, with both species alternating dominance depending on ocean temperature regimes. The species supports a wide range of predatory fish, seabirds, and marine mammals.

Field marks:

• Very slender, elongated, rounded body
• Long, pointed snout projecting beyond the lower jaw
• Large mouth extending well past the rear edge of the eye
• Blue-green back transitioning to bright silvery flanks and belly
• Single small dorsal fin, deeply forked caudal fin
• Adults typically 9-15 cm, smaller than most sardines and herring

Northern Anchovies are readily separated from Pacific Sardine and Pacific Herring by their pointed, overhanging snout and much larger gape extending behind the eye, the defining anchovy field mark.

Northern Anchovies inhabit coastal and offshore surface waters of the eastern Pacific, ranging from British Columbia to Baja California within the California Current system. They are typically found in the upper 50 meters of the water column, often concentrating near upwelling zones, bays, and estuaries where plankton production is high. The species tolerates a range of temperatures but is most abundant in cooler, productive coastal waters. Juveniles frequently use nearshore and estuarine habitat as nurseries before joining offshore adult schools.

Northern Anchovies are highly gregarious, forming dense, fast-moving schools that offer protection from predators through coordinated group behavior. They feed on zooplankton, particularly copepods, both by actively pursuing individual prey and by filtering with fine gill rakers while swimming through plankton patches. Schools undertake seasonal migrations tied to water temperature and spawning activity, often concentrating near productive upwelling areas. Spawning occurs over an extended period in nearshore and offshore waters, with females releasing small, buoyant, elongated eggs that hatch within a few days. As a dominant forage species, Northern Anchovies support major populations of seabirds, marine mammals, and predatory fish throughout the California Current ecosystem.