Smelt are small, shimmering, silver fish that form shoals in estuaries and rivers near the coast. They spend most of their lives at sea, returning to freshwater in spring and summer.

Some individuals return to freshwater as juveniles, but most return as adults when they are about 100 mm long. They can also be found in some lakes.

Some whitebaiters call smelt ‘silveries’ because of their distinctive colour or 'cucumber fish' because they smell like cucumber.

Smelt species

Common smelt

Conservation status: At Risk – Declining
Size: 90–100 mm. Largest recorded: 165 mm
Where found: Throughout New Zealand

Stokell's smelt

Conservation status: Threatened – Nationally Critical
Size: 70–85 mm. Largest recorded: 100 mm
Where found: Canterbury