Fish Identification Photos: Sharpnose Anchovy, Anchoa ischana: The Sharpnose Anchovy is characterized by an elongated semi-cylindrical body, pointed snout of medium length that is approximately as long as the diameter of the eye, short anal fin base and short pectoral fins.

A key identification characteristic is a silver stripe along the flank approximately one-half the diameter of the eye, narrower in the front widener towards the tail. The Sharpnose Anchovy's anal fin origin is under the end of the dorsal fin. The Sharpnose Anchovy is normally between 3 and 5 inches long, with a maximum of 6 inches.

The Sharpnose Anchovy is a member of the Engraulidae or Anchovy Family of pelagic silvery fishes that form huge, tight-knit schools in all oceans between 60 degrees north and 50 degrees south latitude.

The Sharpnose Anchovy is found in the first 30 feet of the water column. This species can easily be confused with Heller’s Anchovy, Anchoa helleri (long snout, long upper jaw, anal fin commences under last rays of dorsal fin), the Northern or California Anchovy, Engraulis mordax (no silver stripe along the flank, anal fin begins behind the end of the dorsal fin), the Regan’s or Silverstripe Anchovy, Anchoa argentivittata (uniformed-width silver stripe, long snout, long distance between eye and end of snout), and the Slender Anchovy, Anchoa exigua (narrow silver stripe along flank with the anal fin originating under the center of the dorsal fin).

In Mexico, the Sharpnose Anchovy is found south of Magdalena Bay along the Pacific side of the Baja California peninsula, throughout the Sea of Cortez, and south along the mainland to Guatemala; it is absent from the oceanic islands.

Sharpnose Anchovy, Anchoa ischana: Shows up as a common and abundant bycatch mixed in with Flatiron Herring (sardinas) when one purchases a “scoop of bait” during the winter season. Caught in the surf zone, La Playita, San Jose del Cabo, Baja California Sur, Mexico, with water temperatures below 78 degrees, early morning, in 5 to 10 foot deep water, utilizing a cast net by panguero bait salesmen. Size varies from 3 to 5 inches and it is virtually weightless. Does not survive a panga “bait tank” at a high level and therefore is used as either chum or as a dead bait with five or six pinned to a 2/0 hook and sent “down deep.” Description and photo courtesy John Snow.