On the Maine coast, smelts are a sure sign of spring. They live in schools in the ocean until heading into estuaries and streams to spawn, where in some places they can be caught with dip-nets. And if you find yourself at a campground, at some point, you will hear the crackling sounds of smelts frying in a cast iron pan.
They are small fish (7-9 inches) a lively green color and smell like melons….what’s that you say? Yes, melons. When you come into Harbor Fish Market, you will see customers filling a bag with these beauties, smelling them as they go. Head and gut them, or not and dredge them in flour, salt, pepper and fry them up. There is nothing ‘finah’ than a smelt fry!
I remember as a kid flouring and frying them. My mom loved them. But, for some reason I don’t remember eating them. I moved to tn from ct in 07. They don’t sell them down here. Can you send me some? For free? I’m broke. Thanks in advance
We love hearing stories like yours! The best memories involve a loved one, and of course some fresh fish!
fresh fish is hard to come by here in Tennessee. they have a very limited choice. we recently got a seafood store in, its small, and just sells gulf stuff. sometimes they get in other things but they are not the same as northeast and they are a little on the expensive side. cant get lobster, just crab legs, sometimes calamari, lately they have clams, mostly its salmon, cod, ahi tuna, crawfish, oysters, things like that. but smelts? no, large calamari, no, scungille, no, flounder, no. normal stuff you find up north. i’ve ordered lobster online a couple times but it is costly and right now I am on long term disability for my legs and diabetes so income is limited. thank you for the memory of the smelts. I wouldn’t mind trying them again. its been something close of 45 years ago