Crossword Genius

Fish appeared to be off (5)

Ross

I believe the answer is:

smelt

I'm a little stuck... Click here to teach me more about this clue!

'fish' is the definition.
(I know that smelt is a type of fish)

I don't understand the rest of the clue.

Can you help me to learn more?

(Other definitions for smelt that I've seen before include "were high" , "Small fish of salmon species" , "23 [FISH]" , "Food fish often fried" , "whiffed" .)

I've seen this clue in The Globe and Mail.
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