11 pounds of skin on headless dressed smelt.
Our dressed lake smelt are headless, gutted and packaged all together as Individually Quick Frozen (IQF). They can vary in size based on the smelt run that day but are usually between 2-3 inches long — these are on the smaller side than what we've had available in the past.
So... THESE ARE SMALL. I put it in all caps because people are complaining about the size. The old days of abundant jumbo smelt in a net are gone. These are going to be small. These are usually caught in the spring during the annual smelt run and immediately processed and frozen.
These are raw fish — NOT breaded like the picture.
Package
A big box of finger-size frozen fish ready for cooking.
How it tastes
Smelt delights with a subtle sweetness, a whisper of the sea, and a satisfying crunch that melts into buttery perfection.
Ways to cook
The best way to cook smelt fish is to pan-fry or deep-fry them, as their small size and delicate flavor shine with a crispy texture. For a healthier option, you can also grill or bake smelt with a drizzle of olive oil and your favorite herbs.