A small oceanodromous ray-finned fish in the anchovy family, widely distributed in Indian coastal waters. Anglers use it as live or dead bait for tuna and other game fish, and it is also a food fish sold in markets. It is also known as நெத்திலி, చేపల, നെതിലി and ನೆತ್ತಿಲಿ. Scientific name: Stolephorus indicus.
Live lots change through the day. See all live lots
Mild, slightly salty flavour; soft flesh that absorbs spices well. Prized for its delicate taste in coastal cuisines.
Many fine bones throughout; usually eaten whole when fried crisp, or carefully deboned in curries.
In our species guide, the main season for Indian anchovy is October to March.
In November, our outlook shows it in season around Chennai, Digha, Goa, Kochi, Mumbai and Visakhapatnam.
Annual sea fishing bans: East coast annual fishing ban (15 Apr – 14 Jun); West coast monsoon fishing ban (1 Jun – 31 Jul). Fewer boats land fresh sea fish during these weeks.
Tamil: நெத்திலி, Telugu: చేపల, Malayalam: നെതിലി, Kannada: ನೆತ್ತಿಲಿ, Bengali: পোঁয়া, Marathi: पोई, Gujarati: પોઈ.
In our species guide, the main season for Indian anchovy is October to March. In November, our outlook shows it in season around Chennai, Digha, Goa, Kochi, Mumbai and Visakhapatnam.
Mild, slightly salty flavour; soft flesh that absorbs spices well. Prized for its delicate taste in coastal cuisines. Many fine bones throughout; usually eaten whole when fried crisp, or carefully deboned in curries.
Popular dishes include Nethili fry / Kozhuva fry (Tamil Nadu, Kerala), Nethili meen kuzhambu (Tamil Nadu), Poi fry (Maharashtra, Gujarat) and Nethili peera (Kerala).
On the Fishing Journey Fish Market, FSSAI-registered sellers list fresh catch as lots. Bid up to your maximum or use Buy now where it is offered, pay from your wallet within 2 hours of winning and collect the fish with your pickup code.
Mechanised and motorised boats stop fishing at sea during the annual bans (East coast annual fishing ban (15 Apr – 14 Jun); West coast monsoon fishing ban (1 Jun – 31 Jul)), so less fresh sea fish is landed in those weeks. Check the Fish Market for live lots.
Indian anchovy fishing guide: bait, season and spots
