topsmelt silverside
Atherinops affinis
Silverside of bays and estuaries of the Mexican Pacific, which forms schools. As an adult it eats zooplankton, and it poses no danger to anglers.
Also called: peixe-rei-pescadinha, pejerrey pescadillo, topsmelt silverside
- maximum
- 37 cm
who is the topsmelt silverside
Fish of the family Atherinopsidae that forms schools in bays, estuaries and rocky and muddy areas with algae, in the Mexican Pacific. It reaches 37 cm total length and 9 years of age. Adults feed on zooplankton, and juveniles eat algae and fly larvae that live on brown algae. It spawns near the coast, with eggs attached to the substrate by adhesive filaments. The species is commercially caught and is of little importance in sport fishing.
Essential profile. Identification, where it occurs and rules, with data from FishBase and the cited regulations. Season, time of day, technique and bait are added once we have a good source for the topsmelt silverside; in the meantime, see the similar species.
identification
Elongated, silvery fish of the family Atherinopsidae. The upper part is blue-gray to green, and a silver band with a blue edge along the top runs the length of the body. It reaches 37 cm. It can be told apart from Atherinopsis californiensis, from the same coast, which reaches 45 cm, by its well-marked silver band with a blue edge.
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Each card shows the day's index (0 to 100) and, below it, a strip with the index for each hour, from 0h to 23h. from poor to excellent.
Essential profile: the index uses a general fish model (weather, sun, moon and tide), without a season or time of day specific to this species.
where found
In Mexico it occurs in the Pacific, from Baja California to the Gulf of California, in bays, estuaries and rocky and muddy areas with algae.
Habitat: Bays, estuaries and muddy and rocky areas with algae, from the surface down to 26 m.
rules for the topsmelt silverside
Summary of the regulations we found, with the source for each. Rules change; before keeping or transporting fish, check with the state environmental agency.
We found no species-specific rule beyond the region's general rules.
catch and release
catch and release Releasing the fish alive, quickly and with a wet hand. During a closed season it isn't always allowed: what the regulation says applies.
Harmless to anglers. It is a small schooling fish: release it quickly.
how much it weighs without taking it out of the water
Length-weight relationship W = a·Lb (a = 0.00776, b = 3.01; FishBase (relação peso-comprimento bayesiana, estimativa da própria espécie)). It's an average: a fat or lean fish can vary by 10% to 20%.
estimated weight
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sources and references
Essential profile: size, length-weight, depth, countries and conservation come from FishBase and the cited regulations, and the texts were written from those sources. Season, time of day, sensitivities, technique and baits and lures are not included yet, because we did not find a good source for this species.
- scientific FishBase: Atherinops affinis (ficha da espécie)Size, length-weight, depth, habitat, distribution, biology, and IUCN status. Page checked on Oct 13, 2026.
- scientific FishBase: nomes populares de Atherinops affinisNames by country and language.
