How big does whitebait grow?

Whitebait typically refers to the juvenile stages of various species of fish, particularly those from the herring, sprat, and smelt families. They usually grow to a size of about 2 to 4 inches (5 to 10 cm) before reaching adulthood. Depending on the species, they can grow larger as they mature, with adult fish varying significantly in size. However, whitebait is generally harvested at this juvenile stage for culinary use.