Butterfish, also called the American butterfish, is a small, silvery-blue ocean fish shaped like a long serving plate with fins. Butterfish have a distinctive row of pores along the top part of the body. Most butterfish measure 7 to 8 inches (18 to 20 centimeters) long. The young often take shelter under jellyfish. Groups of 10 to 15 young butterfish have been found swimming among the tentacles of a single jellyfish.
Butterfish are found along the Atlantic coast of North America from Nova Scotia to the Gulf of Mexico. They spend the winter far offshore in deep waters. In spring and summer, they migrate close to shore in schools. They are excellent food fish.
