The fry of other small species like Herrings and Sprat, found in estuaries, shallow coastal waters, the North Sea and East Atlantic.
Not actually a species, more a size range.
Fresh Whitebait are hard to get but frozen are always available.
There is only one way to cook them – whole (do not gut or head) – dusted in seasoned flour, deep fried in oil and served with loads of lemon and parsley.
‘Devilled Whitebait’ has cayenne pepper added to the flour.