Species profile
Eulachon
Thaleichthys pacificus
At a glance
Eulachon (Thaleichthys pacificus) is an IUCN Least Concern bony-fish species regulated in 6 of 66 jurisdictions tracked by CatchRules across the U.S. and Canada.
The strictest bag limit is 20 (Federal Waters (DFO)); the most generous is 50 (Alaska).
Confirmed by 297 research-grade iNaturalist observations, with Oregon, Alaska, and Washington the top jurisdictions by observation count.
Listed under the U.S. Endangered Species Act — verify protected-species rules with the issuing agency before retaining or handling.
Notable details
- Dried eulachon can be threaded with a wick and burned like a candle, earning the nickname 'candlefish.'
- Body fat can exceed 15% of body weight during spawning runs.
- Indigenous peoples across the Pacific Northwest traded eulachon grease as a prized food commodity.
- Most live only 2–4 years before returning to coastal rivers to spawn.
- They migrate in massive spring schools up rivers from California to Alaska.
Where Eulachon are seen
Jurisdictions with rules for Eulachon
Protected status
- Eulachon.
Always verify protected-species rules with the issuing agency before retaining or handling.
Background
The eulachon /ˈjuːləˌkɒn/ (Thaleichthys pacificus; also spelled oolichan /ˈuːlɪˌkɑːn/, ooligan /ˈuːlɪ.ɡən/, hooligan /ˈhuːlɪ.ɡən/), also called the candlefish, is a small anadromous ocean fish, a smelt found along the Pacific coast of North America from northern California to Alaska.
Background excerpt adapted from Wikipedia's Eulachon article (CC BY-SA). Visit Wikipedia for the full entry.
Other bony fish on CatchRules
Photo credit: iNaturalist / Wikipedia. Identification reference only — verify regulations with the issuing wildlife agency before retaining a catch.