Menhaden have a deep body, sharp-edged belly, large head, and tooth-edged scales. Adults are about 37.5 cm (about 15 inches) in length and 0.5 kg (1 pound) or less in weight. ... Large numbers of menhaden are netted annually.

Can you eat menhaden fish?

The most important fish in the Atlantic is one we don't even eat. ... Menhaden, the most abundant catch on the East Coast, is a bony, oily fish in the same genus as sardines and anchovies. Though it wouldn't kill you to eat one, they are fished mostly for other purposes.

What do menhaden fish look like?

Menhaden are flat and have soft flesh and a deeply forked tail. They rarely exceed 15 inches (38 cm) in length, and have a varied weight range. Gulf menhaden and Atlantic menhaden are small oily-fleshed fish, bright silver, and characterized by a series of smaller spots behind the main, humeral spot.