Bait fish

Baitfish species are typically those that are common and breed rapidly, making them easy to catch and in abundant supply.

Examples of marine bait fish are anchovies, gudgeon, halfbeaks such as ballyhoo, and scad.

There is a bait fish industry in North America, supplying mainly recreational fishermen, worth up to one billion dollars each year.

[2] Mittelmark et al. 1993 provide an economic analysis of the industry in Minnesota and budget and practice information at the enterprise level.

Studies by fisheries and conservation agencies monitor the health of bait fish populations, allowing regional governments to set quotas.