| OCTOPUS | SHRIMP | SQUID |
| SHELLFISH | FIN FISH | FILLETS/LOINS |
| SPECIALTY ITEMS |
'OMSTEAD' CANADA SMELT
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The species is named Osmerus eprlanus mordax.
Canadian Lake Smelt is caught daily by trawl boats and fishing can be year-round but best availability is usually from April through October.
Rainbow Lake Smelt is fished from Lake Erie where Omstead Foods is by far the largest quota holder. Lake Erie is the shallowest of the Great Lakes and is the perfect environment for Lake Smelt. The other Great Lakes are too deep and cold to produce much of these fish.
As the
largest quota holder, Omstead Foods is the #1 producer in the world of
freshwater Lake Smelt. As the largest producer, Omstead Foods
usually has enough frozen inventory to carry them through the winter
season when fishing can be interrupted by bad weather.
Furthermore, since Omstead's main fishery is Lake Smelt, they have
developed a wide variety of packs and forms for this mild, delicately
flavored fish.
Omstead packs both headless-gutted and
whole-round lake smelt. Retail packs of both round and H&G
(dressed) product include nutritional information and UPC markings.
The most common packs for whole round are 11 lb bulk and 12/2 lb printed
poly bags. Dressed smelt is normally sold in 12/1 lb printed
poly bags. All Omstead Smelt is IQF.
Omstead Foods has the largest freezing capacity on the lake and all of their fish are individually quick frozen at their dockside plant, fresh off the daily boats, straight arrow.
Omstead packs smelt in both
retail and foodservice packs. Omstead Foods is also the only
packer of this fish to pack a Tempura Battered H&G Lake Smelt.
Tempura Battered H&G Lake Smelt are the best eating "fish stick" you can
find, with a wonderful crisp breading and delicate slightly sweet fish
flavor.