Complete Guide to Anchovy Fishing: Techniques, Equipment, and Practical Tips

🐟 Complete Guide to Anchovy Fishing: Techniques, Equipment, and Practical Tips

The anchovy (Engraulis encrasicolus) is a small pelagic fish, among the most common in the Mediterranean Sea, but also found in the temperate waters of the eastern Atlantic. Despite its modest size, it is one of the most prized catches for several reasons:

🎣 It is excellent for light tackle fishing, thanks to its lively movements in the water.
🐟 It is used as live bait for catching large predators such as tuna, dorado, bonito, amberjack, and greater amberjack.
🍽️ It has high culinary value, starring in many Mediterranean recipes.

🌍 Why Fish for Anchovies?

Beyond the pure enjoyment of school fishing, anchovies play a key role in marine ecosystems and sport fishing because:

• They move in large schools, often located under seagulls or other surface signals.
• They can be caught both from the shore and from a boat, using light tackle and techniques accessible even to beginners.
• They are mostly active at night, attracted to artificial lights.

🔍 What You Will Find in This Guide
🎯 The best locations and seasons for anchovy fishing
🧰 Recommended equipment for effective and light fishing
🧠 The most productive techniques from shore and boat
🪱 The most commonly used natural and artificial baits
💡 Tips and tricks to increase your catch
🧊 How to store and use them, both in the kitchen and as live bait

🔍 Anchovy Profile

The anchovy — also commonly known as “alice” (Engraulis encrasicolus) — is a pelagic fish belonging to the Engraulidae family. It is recognized by its slender, streamlined, silvery body, which reflects light in the water and allows it to camouflage among the waves.

Often confused with the sardine, the anchovy can be distinguished by specific anatomical features:

✅ Lower jaw longer than the upper jaw
✅ Thinner and more elongated body
✅ Less rounded profile in the ventral area

It is a schooling fish, moving in extremely compact groups capable of changing direction simultaneously to escape predators.

🧬 Main Characteristics

Parameter	Typical Value
📏 Average Size	10–15 cm (exceptional specimens up to 20 cm)
🌍 Habitat	Coastal areas, river mouths, ports, shoals, open sea
🐟 Behavior	Schooling, pelagic, in compact groups
🌒 Activity	Mainly nocturnal, attracted to artificial light sources

 

💡 Biological Curiosity
The anchovy feeds primarily on plankton, which it filters using its gill rakers.
It is a key species in the marine food chain, forming the base of the diet for numerous predators such as mackerels, bonito, tuna, albacore, and cetaceans.
Its life cycle is short (1–3 years), but it has a high reproductive capacity, with massive egg laying in spring and summer.

📍 Where and When to Fish Them

To achieve good results in anchovy fishing, it is essential to know their preferred habitats and the best times to target them. The strategy varies significantly between shore and boat fishing, but in both cases the key factor is nocturnal activity and the presence of artificial light, which attracts schools to the surface.

🌍 Ideal Environments for Anchovy Fishing

Area	Features and Advantages
🧱 Artificial Cliffs	Create shade and shelters, attracting small forage fish that anchovies feed on.
🌊 River Mouths	Areas rich in nutrients and plankton, especially in mixed freshwater/saltwater zones.
🛳️ Illuminated Piers and Ports	Night lights attract plankton and invertebrates, followed by hunting anchovies.
🏖️ Sandy Coastal Bays	Ideal for evening shore fishing with rods or small nets, especially in calm waters.
🚤 Open Sea (from boat)	Using techniques like light trolling or lampara fishing, large schools can be intercepted.

 

🕓 Recommended Times and Seasons

⏰ Best Times:

• Twilight (both evening and morning): when schools start rising to the surface.
• Late night: anchovies remain active thanks to artificial or moonlight.
• Dawn: still active before dispersing into deeper waters under full daylight.

📅 Top Months:

• From May to October, with peak abundance during summer months.
• In some Mediterranean coastal areas, anchovies approach already from late April.

🌑 Moon Influence:

• Night fishing is more effective during a new or waxing moon, when anchovies concentrate around artificial light sources.
• During a full moon, schools tend to disperse, making it harder to concentrate the fish.

🎣 Pro Tip: If fishing from a boat, use a lampara or other strong light sources to attract schools under your vessel, making it easier to catch them with nets or Sabiki rigs.

🧰 3. Recommended Equipment for Anchovy Fishing

Anchovy (or alice) fishing requires extremely light and responsive gear, capable of detecting even the slightest taps from this small but fast pelagic fish. The goal is to combine sensitivity, precision, and delicacy, both during the cast and the retrieval phase.

🧩 Overview of Ideal Equipment

🎣 Component	✅ Recommended Specifications
Rod	3–5 meters, ultralight or light action (1–10 g). Ideal length for shore or pier fishing, allowing long and controlled casts with very light floats.
Reel	Size 1000–2000, lightweight, with micrometric drag. Essential to handle the anchovy's liveliness without snaps.
Main Line	Nylon 0.14–0.18 mm for more elasticity, or PE braid 0.4–0.6 for sensitivity and control.
Leader	Fluorocarbon 0.10–0.14 mm, 80–120 cm long: invisible in water and abrasion-resistant.
Floats	Weight 0.5–2 g, very sensitive, preferably transparent or fluorescent for night visibility.
Hooks	Size 16–20, long shank with sharp point, perfect for small natural baits or pastes.
Useful Accessories	✅ Light feeder to attract schools near the fishing spot ✅ UV or headlamp, essential for night fishing ✅ Fine-mesh landing net, to prevent small specimens from slipping through during retrieval

 

🎣 Expert Tip: To prevent anchovies from unhooking during retrieval, it is crucial to keep the line under constant tension and use a very soft drag, letting the rod absorb the strikes.

🎣 4. Anchovy Fishing Techniques

Catching anchovies requires precision, lightness, and observation. Techniques vary depending on the context (pier, cliff, boat) but all aim to intercept schools during peak activity, especially in low light or at night.

A. 🪱 Float Fishing (from Pier or Cliff)

Float fishing is the most commonly used technique from land and also perfect for beginners. It is effective in the evening and nighttime, especially in artificially lit areas (e.g., ports, piers, cliffs with lampposts).

⚙️ Recommended Setup
Fixed float (0.5–2 g): sensitive and well-balanced.
Progressive weighting: small split shots along the terminal line to let the bait descend naturally.
Small hooks: sizes 16–20, thin and sharp, ideal for tiny mouths.

🧂 Ideal Bait
Pieces of fresh sardine (rich in aroma and natural oils)
Soaked and compacted bread
Marine worms (Korean worm, lugworm) for enticing movements

🎯 Strategy and Practical Tips
Constant feeding: periodically throw a mixture of crushed bread, seawater, and sardine oil to attract and keep the school around.
Keep the line under light tension to feel quick bites immediately.
If no bites occur within 10 minutes, change depth or position.

💡 Expert Tip: if you see flashes or movements on the surface, a school of anchovies is likely active in the area cast immediately and discreetly!

 

💡 B. Night Fishing with Light (Lampara)

Night fishing with artificial light, also known as lampara, is one of the most effective and spectacular techniques for catching anchovies, especially from a boat or well-lit ports. This technique exploits a natural mechanism: light attracts plankton, which in turn draws small fish like anchovies.

🔦 How It Works

Anchovies, being phototropic pelagics, gather where food and light are concentrated. Artificial lighting creates an attraction point that simulates a plankton-rich habitat.

🧰 Recommended Tools and Equipment
Floating LED lamp or underwater torch, placed in the water or suspended just above the sea level.
Recommended power: at least 1000–2000 lumens, with cold white or blue light, which penetrates water better and stimulates plankton activity.
Alternatively, professional boat systems with discharge lamps or LED spotlights installed at the bow or stern.

🎣 Effective Rigs
Light float with natural bait (bread, sardine, worms), adjusting the depth as the school approaches.
Multi-armed Sabiki: terminal with 4–6 microscopic hooks with fluorescent feathers or micro-baits, perfect for catching multiple anchovies in one drop.
Fluorocarbon leaders 0.10–0.14 mm, up to 1 meter long.

⚙️ Fishing Strategy
Position yourself in a dark, calm area, then turn on the light and wait at least 10–15 minutes for the plankton to start aggregating.
Anchovies will first arrive at depth, then rise toward the light source: adjust the rig depth accordingly.
Keep the light on constantly to avoid dispersing the school.

🎯 Useful Tips
Blue light is excellent in clear, deep water, while white light works well in turbid or shallow water.
Use a fine-mesh landing net to quickly recover more anchovies, avoiding hook loss.
If you notice surface activity (splashes, jumps), it’s the right moment to drop the line immediately!

🎣 C. Sabiki Fishing: Technique for Multiple Catches

Fishing with a sabiki rig is one of the most rewarding and fun techniques for catching anchovies, especially when you want to catch multiple specimens at once. Perfect both from a boat and from a pier, this rig uses multiple hooks decorated with feathers or reflective films to attract the fish’s attention.

🧰 Sabiki Rig
Number of hooks: generally 4–6 small hooks (size 16–20), arranged on a thin main line.
Decorated hooks: colored feathers, reflective threads, or small fluorescent plastic pieces simulating tiny fish or plankton.
Terminal weight: 10 to 20 grams, enough to quickly reach the desired depth and maintain stability during retrieval.

⚙️ How to Use
Vertical drop: lower the rig directly under the boat or from the pier, letting the weight reach the bottom or the depth where anchovies are.
Jigging retrieval: retrieve the line with short, decisive movements alternated with pauses, to imitate a small school of moving prey.
Constant monitoring: during retrieval, maintain medium tension to feel light taps and set the hook immediately.

🚤 Ideal Context
From a boat: excellent for vertical fishing, especially in feeding areas where a school of anchovies concentrates.
From a pier or cliff: perfect on lit nights or near port lights that attract fish.
Optimal conditions: calm or slightly wavy waters for better bite perception.

🎯 Practical Tips
Change the feather colors frequently to adapt to water clarity and light conditions.
Use fluorocarbon leaders to reduce line visibility.
Always carry a fine-mesh landing net to facilitate the retrieval of multiple anchovies simultaneously.

 

🐟 D. Light Trolling: Dynamic Technique for Anchovies

Light trolling is an effective and fun technique, particularly suited for boat anglers who want to cover large areas in search of anchovy schools. Thanks to slow trolling, lures or sabiki rigs mimic small fish in motion, naturally attracting anchovies.

⚙️ Technical Parameters

Trolling speed: very slow, between 1 and 2 knots, allowing the lure to move with realistic and enticing action.

Types of lures:
Small minnows (length 3–6 cm) with natural or bright colors to adapt to light and water conditions.
Colored feathers mounted on sabiki rigs, ideal for multiple catches.

🎯 Goals and Advantages
Catch anchovies for bait: excellent technique to obtain fresh specimens for use as live bait for larger predators (tuna, dolphinfish, amberjack).
Cover large areas: moving slowly with the boat allows exploring different depths and potentially rich fishing zones.
Versatile technique: usable both in coastal waters and offshore, particularly effective where anchovies move in schools.

🛠️ Practical Tips
Use a light fishing rod with sensitive action to feel small taps even during trolling.
Adjust the reel for smooth and consistent retrieval, avoiding jerks that could scare the fish.
Change lure color and type frequently according to water clarity and daylight.
Take advantage of dawn and dusk, when anchovies are more active and near the surface.

Light trolling is therefore an excellent compromise between technique, effectiveness, and fun for those who want to catch anchovies dynamically and productively!

🍞 5. Effective Baits and Chum for Anchovy Fishing

To achieve abundant and targeted catches, it is essential to choose baits and chum that effectively attract anchovies, leveraging their taste and feeding behavior.

🎯 Recommended Natural Baits
Soaked and compacted bread: one of the most traditional and widely used baits, perfect for attracting anchovies thanks to its aroma and soft texture that slowly releases in the water.
Bluefish fillets: pieces of fresh or lightly salted sardine, anchovy, or mackerel, ideal to mimic the natural diet of anchovies, particularly appreciated for their effectiveness.
Marine worms: such as Korean worm or lugworm, highly favored for their natural movement and smell, also attracting other small fish that often accompany anchovies.

🧂 Chum and Attractants
Ground bread or fish meal: mixed with sardine oil or other aromatic oils, they release a cloud of scented particles in the water, stimulating the curiosity and appetite of anchovies.
Commercial white fish mixes: easily available in fishing stores, specifically formulated to attract fish like anchovies, ensuring uniform and long-lasting chum.
Chopped mackerel with sea sand: a very effective homemade mix; the sand weights the mixture, keeping it near the bottom or in suspension, while the mackerel emits a strong appetizing scent.

💡 Useful Tips
Change the chum frequently during fishing to keep the school highly attracted.
Adjust the amount of chum to avoid overloading the water, which could scare the fish away.
Use small containers or floating chum dispensers to gradually distribute bait near the fishing area.

🧠 6. Technical Tricks and Tips for Anchovy Fishing

Refining technique and paying attention to details often makes the difference between an average outing and a truly productive one. Here are the key tips to increase the effectiveness of your anchovy fishing.

🎯 Precision in Chumming

Chum always in the same spot to create a consistent attraction zone. Anchovies tend to stay where they find continuous food: a common mistake is dispersing the chum too far from the fishing area.

🪱 Tip: use a small chum dispenser or throw the chum by hand in a calibrated way, at regular intervals of 5–10 minutes.

🐾 Realism in Movements

Anchovies are highly attracted to baits that mimic the natural movements of plankton or small prey.
Avoid overly abrupt retrievals or excessive jerky movements.

🎣 Useful technique: make small vertical or diagonal movements, alternating pauses with short tugs of the float.

🔄 Depth Variation

Don’t limit yourself to the surface! Anchovies can change depth according to current, temperature, and light. If there are no bites, try fishing between 1 and 2 meters deep, even with adjustable floats.

📏 Trick: add small split shots to let the bait descend gradually in the most active range.

🕯️ Night Light Control

Light is a powerful ally, but it must be dosed carefully. Too much intensity can disturb or disperse the school. Better to use soft or side-directed light to attract plankton without scaring the anchovies.

🔦 Suggestion: blue or cold white lights attract more plankton, but try to shield them or place them just at water level.

📦 Live Bait Storage

If you plan to use anchovies as live bait for predators, it is essential to keep them in perfect condition:

Oxygenated tank with clean seawater
Cool temperature, possibly refrigerated with ice bottles (not immersed)
Frequent water changes to prevent waste or toxin buildup

💡 Bonus tip: handle anchovies as little as possible to avoid stressing or damaging them.

 

🧊 7. Anchovy Preservation: Guaranteed Freshness and Quality

Anchovy (Engraulis encrasicolus) is a highly perishable fish with tender and delicate flesh. To best preserve its flavor, texture, and food safety, it is essential to handle it correctly from the moment of capture.

🧼 Immediate Cleaning

Immediately after capture, anchovies should be gutted and washed with clean seawater. This prevents intestinal fermentation and keeps the fish fresher and more pleasant to taste.

🔪 Useful tip: you can remove the guts and head by gently pressing the belly and carefully pulling with your fingers.

❄️ Cold Storage

Anchovies must be cooled immediately to slow down flesh degradation:

Crushed ice: layer anchovies alternately with ice in a tray or cooler bag
Refrigerator: store at 0–4°C, preferably in a closed container to avoid contamination and odors
Freezing: for long-term storage, freeze them as soon as cleaned, preferably vacuum-sealed or in tightly sealed bags to prevent freezer burn

📌 Important note: consumption raw (e.g., marination or sushi) requires mandatory pre-freezing at at least -20°C for 24 hours to eliminate the risk of Anisakis.

🧴 Storage in Oil or Salt

One of the most loved traditional preparations is in oil, which allows enjoying anchovies even out of season:

Salting: let cleaned anchovies rest under coarse salt for 12–24 hours
Washing and drying: rinse and dry the fillets thoroughly
Storage: place the fillets in a sterilized jar and cover with extra virgin olive oil, adding optional aromatics (garlic, chili, bay leaf)

🧂 Alternative: storage under salt in a glass jar, with alternating layers of anchovies and coarse sea salt, is ideal for long periods (up to 6–12 months), provided it is kept in a cool and dark place.

🍽️ 8. Uses of Anchovy: From Table to Fishing

Anchovy (or Engraulis encrasicolus) is a true star of Mediterranean cuisine and an excellent ally in sport fishing. Despite its small size, it has an intense and unmistakable flavor, making it versatile in the kitchen and ideal as live or dead bait for predatory fishing.

🍋 Raw Marinated

A classic seafood appetizer, fresh and light.
Anchovies must be frozen or blast-frozen for at least 24 hours at -20°C before being consumed raw.

🔪 Preparation:

Butterfly the anchovies, remove the backbone, and place them in a container.
Cover with lemon juice or white wine vinegar, a pinch of salt, pink pepper, and extra virgin olive oil.
Let marinate in the fridge for 2–4 hours.

🍳 Pan-Fried with Garlic and Parsley

A simple and quick recipe, perfect to highlight the flavor of anchovy:

🥘 Procedure:

Sauté a clove of garlic in EVO oil.
Add the cleaned anchovies and cook for a few minutes.
Sprinkle with chopped fresh parsley and serve with crunchy bread.

💡 Also great as a topping for spaghetti or bruschetta!

🍤 Crispy Fry

Fried whole, anchovies are an irresistible treat:

🔥 How to:

Quickly coat them in semolina or “00” flour.
Fry in plenty of hot oil (170–180°C) until golden.
Serve with lemon, black pepper, or a yogurt-based sauce.

🥇 Tip: use very fresh and dry anchovies for a lighter, crispier fry.

Storage in Oil or Salt

Ancient yet timeless techniques to enjoy them all year round:

In oil: ideal as an appetizer or seasoning for pasta, pizza, and salads.
Under salt: base for sauces such as bagna cauda or anchovy pasta.

🫙 Properly stored, they maintain flavor and quality for months.

🎣 As Live or Dead Bait

Anchovy is one of the best baits for targeting predators such as:

Tuna
Dolphinfish
Bonito
Amberjack
Sea bass

🔁 Usage: in drifting, coastal trolling, or as chopped chum to attract schools of predators.

🧊 Storage: to keep them alive or fresh, an oxygenated tank or refrigerated container is essential.

 

 

🎯 Why Anchovy Fishing is Worth It

Anchovy fishing is much more than just a recreational activity: it is a complete experience, combining technique, observation, and gastronomic satisfaction.

✅ Accessible to everyone: perfect for both beginners and experienced anglers, thanks to its easy approach and light equipment.

🎣 Technique and fun: it requires sensitivity, precision, and strategy, especially in night fishing or with a sabiki rig, making it stimulating even for those seeking something more technical.

👨🍳 Great in the kitchen: freshly caught anchovies are a prized, versatile, and nutritious ingredient, starring in numerous traditional recipes.

🌊 Connection with the sea: observing the movements of schools, reading surface signals, and learning to recognize the best moments of the day sharpens the angler’s eye and brings them closer to nature.

💡 With the right equipment, a bit of practice, and respect for the environment, you can enjoy fishing trips full of satisfaction, discovering a surprising marine world often just a few meters from the shore.