Sailor, I nearly forgot to say, returning for fish (5)

I believe the answer is:

sprat

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'fish' is the definition.
(sprat is a kind of fish)

I don't understand how the remainder of the clue works.

(Other definitions for sprat that I've seen before include "Parts (anag.)" , "Small herring-type fish" , "Traps for small fish" , "Jack, perhaps" , "Small edible fish" .)

I've seen this clue in The Telegraph.

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