Whitebait Smelt - Allosmerus elongatus (Ayres)

Page 6-1 Smelts TR9

Spawning

Location Probably spawns in the ocean (Hubbs 1925).
Season Mature male taken in Humboldt Bay in March (McAllister 1963).

Juveniles

Figure 6-1. Allosmerus elongatus, whitebait smelt juvenile, 67 mm TL.

Dorsal fin 9-10 (McAllister 1963; Miller and Lea 1972); 9-11 (Hart 1973).
Anal fin 14-17 (McAllister 1963; Miller and Lea 1972; Hart 1973).
Pectoral fin 12-14 (McAllister 1963; Miller and Lea 1972; Hart 1973); 12.
Adipose fin Yes.
Mouth Terminal, large, upper jaw extending just posterior to margin of eye (Hart 1973); large, oblique; lower jaw slightly protruding, snout pointed.
Vertebrae 65-67 (McAllister 1963; Miller and Lea 1972).
Distribution San Francisco Bay (McAllister 1963; Ganssle 1966; Aplin 1967).

Life History

The whitebait smelt is found from the Strait of Juan de Fuca, British Columbia, southward to San Francisco Bay (McAllister 1963). They have also been reported further south to Monterey Bay (Kukowski 1972). In San Francisco Bay, this species was collected by Ganssle (1966), Aplin (1967), and this study. Hubbs (1925) reported that whitebait smelt probably spawn in the ocean and remain there as translucent larvae until they are about 76 mm long. In December 1982 a total of 53 whitebait juveniles ranging in size from 50 to 78 mm TL was captured in midwater trawls in San Francisco Bay and south San Francisco Bay by the California Department of Fish and Game. Those specimens were still carrying larval pigmentation. The canine teeth (1 to 3) were developed in the middle of the vomer. All of the juveniles had empty gut cavities. Life history information for the whitebait smelt is very limited. The largest specimens were reported as 222 mm by Roedel (1953), and a 135-mm TL specimen was captured in this study. Whitebait smelt have been used largely as bait, and only to a minor extent for human consumption (Hart 1973).

References

Hart 1973; Hubbs 1925; McAllister 1963; Miller and Lea 1972; Roedel 1953.