The European anchovy is a slim, round-bodied little fish with a blue-green back and a silver belly. The British mini-species record anchovy was taken off Hastings, East Sussex, in 2003. British boat record: none listed.
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About the European anchovy
The European anchovy is a slim, round-bodied little fish with a blue-green back and a silver belly. Look at the mouth and you will see it is deep, reaching back behind the eye, which is a useful clue when you are sorting small silver shoal fish. Most are about 13.5 cm long, and the biggest reach around 21 cm, so this is a fish measured in centimetres and grams rather than pounds. Anchovies live in coastal open water, usually shallower than 50 m in summer, and they cope with estuaries and lagoons too. Around Britain they are noted as common off Devon and Cornwall in winter, though not in commercial numbers. They spawn from about April to November. It is a small fish, and it belongs to the mini-species group on the official British record list. The anchovy entry on that list comes from the Sussex coast: 49 g, off Hastings, in 2003. The list does not say whether it was caught from a boat, so we do not call it a boat record. Even so, it gives the species a little local interest.
On the boat
The species record does not give a method, a bait or a Sussex month for anchovy, so we will not guess. What is known is that it is a small shoal fish of coastal water, usually shallower than 50 m in summer. It is most often recorded off Devon and Cornwall in winter.
British boat-caught record
None listed
No British boat-caught record is confirmed for this species. The official June 2026 list carries an anchovy in its mini-species table: 49 g, Douglas Roots, off Hastings, East Sussex, in 2003. That table does not split boat and shore catches. The words 'off Hastings' suggest a boat, but the list does not say so, so we do not call it a boat record.
How we label records: the British boat-caught records table explains confirmed, claimed and none listed.
Care and rules
The minimum landing size is 12 cm, according to the Gov.uk table checked in 2026. The IUCN lists the European anchovy as Least Concern. No other protection or release rules were found in our sources. Rules change: check the current rules before you fish.
Did you know?
The official British mini-species record for anchovy is just 49 g. It was taken off Hastings, East Sussex, in 2003, so the country's smallest-fish table has a Sussex entry.
Questions about the European anchovy
What is the British boat-caught record for European anchovy?
No British boat-caught record is confirmed for this species. The official June 2026 list carries an anchovy in its mini-species table: 49 g, Douglas Roots, off Hastings, East Sussex, in 2003. That table does not split boat and shore catches. The words 'off Hastings' suggest a boat, but the list does not say so, so we do not call it a boat record.
Is European anchovy caught off the Sussex coast?
Yes. The British mini-species record anchovy was taken off Hastings, East Sussex, in 2003.
When is the best time to catch European anchovy?
Around Britain: Common off Devon and Cornwall in winter, not in commercial numbers. Spawns about April to November (Wikipedia). Our sources give no months for Sussex.
How big does an European anchovy get?
Typically about 13.5 cm, up to 21 cm (Wikipedia).
Sources
- Wikipedia: European anchovy: en.wikipedia.org
- Gov.uk MCRS in UK waters: gov.uk
- BRFC sea fish listings June 2026: anglingtrust.net
Picture: Duarte Frade, file page on Wikimedia Commons. Every picture in the guide is listed on the picture credits page.
