Species profile
Rainbow Smelt
Osmerus mordax
Identify Rainbow Smelt (Osmerus mordax) from a photo — free, unlimited, no sign-up — with the CatchRules iPhone app. Plus current fishing rules across 20 jurisdictions.
At a glance
Rainbow Smelt (Osmerus mordax) is an IUCN Least Concern bony-fish species regulated in 23 of 66 jurisdictions tracked by CatchRules across the U.S. and Canada.
The strictest bag limit is 1 (Maine); the most generous is 500 (Quebec).
Confirmed by 646 research-grade iNaturalist observations, with Ontario, New Brunswick, and Michigan the top jurisdictions by observation count.
Listed under SARA — verify protected-species rules with the issuing agency before retaining or handling.
Notable details
- Freshly caught fish emit a strong, pleasant cucumber-like odor unlike any other North American fish.
- Anadromous adults migrate into coastal streams each spring to spawn in enormous, dense schools.
- Spring runs are so thick that smelt can be scooped directly from streams by hand or dip net.
- Typically lives just 4–6 years but grows quickly to about 20 cm in length.
Where Rainbow Smelt are seen
Jurisdictions with rules for Rainbow Smelt
Protected status
- SARA Schedule 1 (endangered): Rainbow Smelt. Canadian populations — harm/harvest prohibited under SARA s.32-33.
- SARA Schedule 1 (endangered): Rainbow Smelt. Canadian populations — harm/harvest prohibited under SARA s.32-33.
Always verify protected-species rules with the issuing agency before retaining or handling.
Background
The rainbow smelt is a North American species of fish of the family Osmeridae. Walleye, trout, and other larger fish prey on these smelt. The rainbow smelt prefer juvenile ciscoes, zooplankton such as calanoid copepods, and other small organisms, but are aggressive and will eat almost any fish they find. They are anadromous spring spawners and prefer clean streams with light flow and light…
Background excerpt adapted from Wikipedia's Rainbow Smelt article (CC BY-SA). Visit Wikipedia for the full entry.
Other bony fish on CatchRules
Frequently asked questions
What is Rainbow Smelt?
Rainbow Smelt (Osmerus mordax) is an IUCN Least Concern bony-fish species regulated in 23 of 66 jurisdictions tracked by CatchRules across the U.S. and Canada.
What is the scientific name for Rainbow Smelt?
Rainbow Smelt is Osmerus mordax.
Is Rainbow Smelt regulated for fishing?
Yes — Rainbow Smelt has fishing regulations in 20 U.S. states and/or Canadian provinces tracked by CatchRules. See the "Jurisdictions with rules" section above for the binding-source links.
How can I identify Rainbow Smelt?
Take a photo with the free CatchRules iPhone app — on-device identification recognizes Rainbow Smelt along with ~1,500 other species. No sign-up, unlimited use.
Photo credit: iNaturalist / Wikipedia. Identification reference only — verify regulations with the issuing wildlife agency before retaining a catch.