Saltwater · Late spring to fall; most common in summer, June to September

Butterfish

Peprilus triacanthus

A paper-thin, butter-soft silvery fish of Northeast bays — a classic bait fish and delicate pan fish in one. It has almost no scales and a body so soft it bruises at a touch, and its rich flesh spoils quickly, so keep catches on ice. Summer schools around piers are a sabiki staple.

Seasons · Peak

Jan

Feb

Mar

Apr

May

Jun

Jul

Aug

Sep

Oct

Nov

Dec

Butterfish — Photo: Smithsonian Environmental Research Center, CC BY 2.0 — Wikimedia Commons

Identifying features

Paper-thin, deep oval body, extremely soft and smooth to the touch
Almost no visible scales; skin feels like wet silk
Three short spines in front of the long, falcate dorsal fin
No pelvic fins; tail deeply forked
Plain silver with a faint dusky back and no spots or stripes

Habits

Schools in open bay and nearshore water in summer, often near the surface
Feeds on small jellyfish, plankton, tiny shrimp and young fish
Young fish shelter under jellyfish and floating objects
Spawns in late spring and summer in coastal water
Moves offshore and south as water cools in fall; flesh spoils fast out of water

Distribution

New York, NY · New York★ Primary

Portland, ME · MaineCommon

Boston, MA · New EnglandCommon

Jersey Shore, NJ · New Jersey & DelawareCommon

Where to find them

Long Island Sound piers and party-boat grounds
New England bay docks and harbour mouths
New Jersey nearshore lumps and channel edges in summer

Where they live

Open bay and nearshore water over sand and mudAround piers, docks and party-boat groundsSchooling near the surface over deeper bay channels

How to catch them

Sabiki fishing at piers and party boats Boat

Rig: Light rod with a sabiki rig of tiny hooks and small jigs, jigged gently around piers, docks and over party-boat grounds

Bait/lure: Sabiki flies, tiny jigs

Key tip: Jig gently in mid-water where schools show on the sounder; the mouth is tiny and soft, so lift fish aboard rather than swinging them.

Miniature bottom rigs with shrimp or bloodworm Shore

Rig: Ultralight rod, miniature bottom rig with size 8-10 hooks and small pieces of shrimp or bloodworm

Bait/lure: Shrimp or bloodworm pieces

Key tip: Keep pieces tiny and hooks small — butterfish peck softly and tear free on heavy gear.

Best baits & lures

Tiny pieces of shrimpSmall bits of bloodwormSabiki flies and tiny jig teasers

Techniques for Butterfish →

Baseline setup

Rod: Light to ultralight 6 ft spinning rod
Line: 4-8 lb mono
Terminal: Sabiki rigs, size 8-10 hooks, small split shot and sinkers

Recommended gear for this species

Rod · Best value

9' 5-weight fly rod outfit

≈ US$180-260

Covers chironomid lakes and small rivers with one setup.

Flies · Budget

Chironomid assortment (30 patterns)

≈ US$25-40

Chironomids are 60% of a lake rainbow's diet in spring.

Picks come from our rule library — never paid placements. Prices are guides; affiliate links may earn us a commission.

Typical size

Common 6-9 in (15-23 cm); large fish to about 12 in (30 cm)

On the table

Excellent but delicate — rich, soft pan fish that spoils quickly; ice it at once and eat fresh.

Similar species

Atlantic HerringAtlantic herring is longer and torpedo-shaped with obvious scales and a single short dorsal fin; butterfish is a deep, paper-thin oval with almost no scales

Round ScadRound scad is cylindrical like a small mackerel with a lateral line of scutes; butterfish is flat, deep and scaleless-feeling with no scutes

Regulations vary by area and can change in-season — always check the official rules for your area before you fish. Regulations guide →

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