European Anchovy
European anchovies turn up in Irish inshore waters, particularly along the south and west coasts, but they are not a traditional target species for Irish anglers.
Their real significance here is as baitfish — a key part of the food chain that drives feeding frenzies among mackerel, bass, and tuna. Recreational fishing for anchovy specifically is essentially absent in Ireland.
Scientific Name: Engraulis encrasicolus
- Small, slender, round-bodied fish with a deeply cleft mouth that extends behind the eye — the overhanging pointed snout is the clearest ID feature.
- Silver belly with a blue-green or grey back; younger fish show a faint silver stripe along the flank that fades with age.
- Typical length around 13–14 cm; maximum around 20 cm. Forked tail and a single dorsal fin, similar to a sprat at a glance.
What to know
Habitat Distribution
- Native to the northeast Atlantic; range extends from Norway to South Africa, including Irish coastal waters, primarily inshore and pelagic zones.
- In Ireland, most reliably recorded along the south and southwest coasts, where warmer Atlantic water pushes north — their distribution here has expanded in recent decades as sea temperatures have risen.
- Schooling fish that move through the upper water column, often close to the surface in open coastal and estuarine areas.
Key Locations
- South and southwest Irish coasts — the warmest inshore waters in Ireland, where anchovy are most consistently recorded.
- Cork and Kerry coastlines, where warmer Atlantic currents push closest inshore and baitfish aggregations attract larger predators.
Specific Spots
- Surface and mid-water schools over open inshore ground — anchovies don't hold to structure the way demersal fish do.
- Estuaries and sheltered bays along the south coast can concentrate schools, especially in warmer months.
- Where you find feeding mackerel or bass crashing baitfish near the surface, anchovies are often what's being eaten.
European Anchovy FAQ
Answers from onWater's species guide.
When is the best time to fish for European Anchovy?
Most likely to be present in Irish inshore waters during summer and early autumn, when sea temperatures are at their highest. Rare or absent in winter, when cooler water pushes their range south and offshore.
How do you catch European Anchovy?
Anchovies are not deliberately targeted by recreational anglers in Ireland. Their value to Irish fishing is indirect, locating surface baitfish activity, which often includes anchovies, is a reliable way to find feeding bass, mackerel, or bluefin tuna working from below.
What do European Anchovy eat?
Filter feeders on zooplankton and tiny crustaceans, they swim open-mouthed through the water column rather than chasing individual prey. This feeding style makes them very difficult to catch on conventional lures or flies.
Where do European Anchovy live?
Native to the northeast Atlantic; range extends from Norway to South Africa, including Irish coastal waters, primarily inshore and pelagic zones.
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