The Smelt are Running

Last night, we dined on rainbow smelt. Ours were not the frozen 3”- 4” lake species. These were the 6”- 9” anadromous Atlantic smelt, freshly caught in Hull Bay by yours truly, with some help from my friends.

September is the time when most fishermen stow their rods for the season. But, despite the wind and rain, some have replaced their striper gear with smelt rods for a very different experience; that is, the difference between the thrill of chasing striped bass and bluefish on the open water and the solitude of smelt fishing. Today, there is also the contrast between the 2,300 smelt fishermen counted in the Houghs Neck area decades ago, and the dozen or two one might find during the course of a day on one of the local piers.

Last week, I toured the public docks in Hull, equipped only with pen and paper. In the process, I renewed my belief that smelt fishing is a unique multicultural experience with few closely held secrets. I interviewed almost two dozen fishermen from Quincy, Weymouth, Dorchester, Norwood, Cohasset, and Hull. I asked the who, what, when, where, how, and why of smelt fishing including the hot spots, preferred time, tide, and depth, as well as rigging and jigging techniques. The answers, while not always consistent, were always forthcoming. I was encouraged to participate with offers of rods, hooks, and bait. I was also shown how and where to net grass shrimp. Days later, when I reappeared with my own smelt rods, we engaged in some friendly competition. Although I neglected to mention that we were competing, I still lost. As a consolation prize, the victors tossed several smelt my way and I returned home with a big smile and two-dozen fish.

Sailors say, It’s more about the journey than the destination. For me, smelt fishing is more about the experience than the dinner. Nevertheless, this tender white fish is a pleasant change from my summer diet of striped bass and bluefish. If you haven’t tried smelt fishing, it’s not too late to participate in the fun that, for some, lasts through the winter. Here’s my how-to:

My Lessons Learned – Smelting 101

The Massachusetts smelt season currently runs from 6/16/09 – 3/14/10 for recreational hook and line fishing. There is no minimum size or possession limit.

For less than $25.00 you can purchase a smelt pole with a line winder, dacron line, hooks, an in-line sinker, a gill (1/2 cup) of live shrimp and a bucket… everything you need to join the “club”. Add a milk crate for seating comfort, and you’re good to go. Still better, you can use your fly rod or ultra-light spinning rod and slash your cost in half. Just add a small in-line sinker, a snelled Aberdeen #6 or #8 hook and you’re in business. If live grass shrimp are not available, try sand worms; otherwise, try frozen shrimp. As an alternative to Aberdeen hooks, you might try baiting the lower three hooks of that Sabiki rig you used to catch mackerel last summer. Be aware, however, that Sabiki rigs are likely to yield alewife and blueback river herring, which, for conservation reasons, are currently illegal to keep.

Whatever your choice of rod and terminal tackle, you will need to experiment with depth, starting near the bottom, to determine where the school lies; that is, if you’re too shy to ask those around you. Then, it’s a matter of gently jigging as you feel for a subtle strike. At the moment of truth, quickly lift the fish onto the dock before you lose it. Remember to correct your fishing depth for tide and movement of the school.

Any local tackle shop can direct you to the most productive publicly accessible fishing spots, but virtually any dock on the local harbors will yield smelt when they are running. At this writing, the hot spots include Hull, Marina Bay, and Scituate. Be respectful of private property and always practice carry-in/carry-out with your trash.

The following tackle shops carry live shrimp on an availability basis. Call in advance and check the phone book for other local suppliers:

Fore River Fishing Tackle, Quincy, MA (617-770-1397)
Hull Bait & Tackle, Hull, MA (781-925-4667)
Belsan Bait & Tackle, Scituate, MA (781-545-9400)

For the record, grass shrimp may be netted in some of the local estuaries. However, at $3.00 per gill, retail, it’s not worth risking one’s life. Similarly, during hard freezes, smelt may be caught through the ice in some local rivers, also at personal risk. A somewhat safer experience, so I hear, may be had in Maine where ice-fishing huts can be rented by the hour. Be sure to perform your due diligence and let us know how you made out.

Cleaning and Cooking

The only fishermen who complain about cleaning smelt are those who bring home 50 - 100 or more fish. For the rest of us, cleaning a few dozen at 30 seconds each makes for easy work. I use sharp scissors to remove the head and slice through the underbody before removing the innards. I rinse the fish, dip them in egg, roll them in flour, and pan-fry them in oil. For tips on how the pros do it, click on the following links:

Cleaning smelt – Minnesota Sea Grant Program - http://www.seagrant.umn.edu/fisheries/smelt

Cooking smelt – Minnesota Sea Grant Program - http://www.seagrant.umn.edu/fisheries/smelt_recipes

Smelt recipes - http://www.all-fish-seafood-recipes.com/index.cfm/list/Smelt

More recipes - http://www.cooks.com/rec/search/0,27-0,smelt,FF.html

So, last night, we dined on Atlantic smelt and Chardonnay. You can do the same.
Enjoy!

Barry Hass