Name: Northern Anchovy, Engraulis mordax mordax

Geographical range: Baja California to the Queen Charlotte Islands. The center of their abundance is from Magdalena Bay to San Francisco. Their occurrence in Washington waters is sporadic and unpredictable. In some years, larval anchovies can be found in the Strait of Georgia, although the spawning ground for these fish is unknown.

Related species: The northern anchovy is the only member of the Engraulidae family found in Washington waters. Anchovies are not related to, but are frequency associated with the sardine (Sardinops sagax) or sand lance. Anchovies can be distinguished from other forage fish species include herring, surf smelt and sand lance by their large eyes and mouth.

Life history: Little is know about the life history of the anchovy in Washington, or if in fact anchovies spawn in Washington waters, or are merely transient visitors. In California, where the species is abundant and utilized commercially, more is known about this species.

Spawning is temperature dependant, requiring 10-23.3 degrees Celsius. A single female may spawn several times each year with an annual fecundity of about 25,000 eggs. Fertilization is external and the eggs positively buoyant and pelagic. Eggs incubate for 2 to 4 days, depending on water temperature, producing larvae which are about 3 mm in length. Larvae metomorphose to their adult form and coloration in about 3 months. A small percentage of the larvae reach maturity at the end of the first year (100 mm in length), with the vast majority reaching maturity at the end of the second year (about 150 mm in length). The maximum life span is thought to be about 7 years in non-exploited populations. Anchovies have been observed to demonstrate the nocturnal behavior similar to herring; remaining at depth during the day and coming to the surface at night. They feed similarly to sardines, randomly filtering the water, although some anchovies have demonstrated particulate biting, similar to herring.

Spawning stocks: It is not known if anchovies spawn in Washington waters. Larval anchovies have been observed in the Strait of Juan de Fuca, but pelagic eggs have not been found in numbers which suggest recent spawning activity.

Anchovies are a schooling fish which are extremely abundant in some areas of the Pacific coast, such as California, where their numbers have increased since the decline in abundance of the pilchard (Sardinops sagax) or sardine which were fished to very low levels by the fishery described in John Steinbeck's novel Cannery Row. In Washington, anchovies are not consistently available in numbers necessary for commercial use. They are, however, important along the Columbia River estuary as live bait for salmon and sturgeon fisheries. No anchovy stock condition or habitat assessment activities are presently conducted for Washington coastal anchovies. Other than commercial regulations contained in the Washington Administrative Code, there is little management of anchovy fisheries. No information is routinely gathered other than the catch data recorded on fish receiving tickets.

Anchovies are thought to move inshore in the spring and summer and offshore in the fall and winter. They are a pelagic species and are particularly susceptible to changes in water temperature.

Anchovies are taken commercially within coastal and estuarine waters of Washington. Within Grays Harbor and Willapa Bay, anchovy fishing is open throughout the year with seasonal gear restrictions. Within coastal waters, anchovy harvest is allowed year-round with any lawful gear. Lawful gear types include lampara and purse seine. Anchovies along the coast are migratory and available to fisheries from late spring through the fall. The Washington commercial anchovy fishery provides bait for recreational fisheries. The fishery operates out of Ilwaco and Westport. Catches from operations conducted out of Ilwaco are primarily taken in the mouth of the Columbia River. Westport based anchovy catches are taken predominantly from Grays Harbors, although some of the landings are made from the nearshore coastal area.