European Anchovy
The European anchovy has been fished in Dutch coastal waters for centuries, and traditional anchovy fishing is officially recognized as intangible cultural heritage of the Netherlands.
A small, schooling pelagic fish of the North Sea, anchovy numbers here have shifted with warming waters — the population has actually grown in recent decades as the North Sea warms, though catches remain variable.
For Dutch anglers and small-boat fishers, it's a culturally significant target with deep roots.
Scientific Name: Engraulis encrasicolus
Also known as ansjovis, Europese ansjovis
- Slender, round-bodied fish with a deeply cleft mouth that extends behind the eye — the overhanging pointed snout is the clearest field mark separating it from sprat.
- Silver belly with a blue, green, or grey back and sides; younger fish show a distinct silver lateral stripe that fades with age.
- Forked tail and a single dorsal fin, similar to sprat, but the body is rounder and the snout more pronounced.
- Typical length around 13.5 cm; maximum recorded around 20–21 cm. A large individual weighs under 50 g.
What to know
Habitat Distribution
- Native to the eastern Atlantic and present in the North Sea; the Dutch coastal zone, including the southern North Sea, falls within its natural range.
- A pelagic, schooling species that moves through open coastal and nearshore waters, generally in the upper water column from the surface down to around 50 m, though recorded to 400 m.
- Tolerates brackish water as well as full marine salinity, so it can appear in estuarine areas along the Dutch coast.
- The North Sea population has expanded northward and increased in abundance over recent decades, linked to rising water temperatures.
Key Locations
- The southern North Sea coastline — the traditional heart of Dutch anchovy fishing, where small-boat and beach seine operations have worked for generations.
- Estuarine and coastal zones along the Zeeland and Zuid-Holland coasts, where tidal mixing and brackish-to-marine conditions suit the species.
Specific Spots
- Schools concentrate near the surface, especially during warmer months — look for birds working the water or visible baitfish activity as a locator.
- Nearshore coastal shallows and estuarine mouths along the Dutch coast are productive, particularly where tidal currents concentrate plankton and small prey.
- Anchovy follow food, so areas with strong tidal mixing that pushes zooplankton to the surface tend to hold fish.
European Anchovy FAQ
Answers from onWater's species guide.
What are the best lures and bait for European Anchovy?
Sabiki rigs, small, flashy multi-hook bait rigs, are the most practical hook-and-line method when targeting anchovies for bait; drop them through a visible school and retrieve slowly.
When is the best time to fish for European Anchovy?
Summer and early autumn are the primary season, when anchovies move into shallower coastal North Sea waters as temperatures rise. Fish are largely absent from inshore Dutch waters through winter, retreating as the North Sea cools.
How do you catch European Anchovy?
Dutch anchovy fishing is historically a net-based tradition, beach seines and small coastal vessels working schooling fish near the surface during summer months. Rod-and-line targeting is uncommon; most hook-and-line contact comes incidentally or when collecting bait fish with sabiki rigs.
What do European Anchovy eat?
Filter-feeders and selective predators on zooplankton, copepods, small crustaceans, and fish eggs make up the bulk of their diet. Because they feed on tiny organisms rather than chasing larger prey, they are not typically targeted with conventional lures.
Where do European Anchovy live?
Native to the eastern Atlantic and present in the North Sea; the Dutch coastal zone, including the southern North Sea, falls within its natural range.
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