WikiCatch
Capelin
Mallotus villosus
Overview
The capelin or caplin is a small forage fish of the smelt family found in the North Atlantic, North Pacific and Arctic oceans. In summer, it grazes on dense swarms of plankton at the edge of the ice shelf. Larger capelin also eat a great deal of krill and other crustaceans. Among others, whales, seals, Atlantic cod, Atlantic mackerel, squid and seabirds prey on capelin, in particular during the spawning season while the capelin migrate south. Capelin spawn on sand and gravel bottoms or sandy beaches at the age of two to six years. When spawning on beaches, capelin have an extremely high post-spawning mortality rate which, for males, is close to 100%. Males reach 20 cm (8 in) in length, while females are up to 25.2 cm (10 in) long. They are olive-coloured dorsally, shading to silver on sides. Males have a translucent ridge on both sides of their bodies. The ventral aspects of the males iridesce reddish at the time of spawn.
Best Baits & Lures
Live Baits
- Sand Eels
Highly effective; capelin's natural prey.
- Bloodworms
Use small pieces on small hooks.
- Clams
Cut into small pieces.
- Mussels
Use small pieces on the hook.
- Small Pieces of Herring
A good, oily alternative.
Artificial Lures
- Mepps Aglia #00SpinnerBuy
Small and flashy, imitates small baitfish.
- Blue Fox Vibrax Minnow Spin #2SpinnerBuy
Good for attracting aggressive feeders.
- Kastmaster 1/8 ozSpoonBuy
Casts far, imitates fleeing baitfish.
- Tsunami Holographic Swim Shad 2"Soft PlasticBuy
Mimics small baitfish very well.
- Clouser Minnow (Size 6)FlyBuy
Excellent fly imitation of small baitfish.
Techniques
Use a Sabiki rig with small hooks when capelin are schooling to catch multiple fish at once; jig vertically near the bottom where they congregate.
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Where to Find Capelin
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the best bait for Capelin?+
Popular baits for Capelin include Sand Eels, Bloodworms, Clams, Mussels, Small Pieces of Herring. Tip: Use a Sabiki rig with small hooks when capelin are schooling to catch multiple fish at once; jig vertically near the bottom where they congregate.
Where can I catch Capelin?+
Capelin can be found in many locations worldwide. Top regions include Newfoundland and Labrador, Canada; Ontario, Canada; Québec, Canada. WikiCatch lists 14 fishing spots where this species is found.
How big do Capelin get?+
Capelin (Mallotus villosus) can reach up to 20.0000003 cm in length and 0.2015 kg in weight. Their IUCN conservation status is NE.
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