Oceanographic and hydroacoustic data were obtained by the Instituto del Mar del Peru (IMARPE) during 72 cruises off the Peruvian coast between 1985 and 2017 to determine the ranges of the abiotic parameters influencing the anchovy (anchoveta) distribution and to observe the effect of the 1997–1998 El Niño event. The hydroacoustic data show a high seasonal variability in anchoveta distribution related to differences of environmental parameters as well as changes in distribution after the very strong El Niño event in 1997–1998. Geostatistic variograms were used to describe the seasonal variability and generalized additive models (GAMs) with a Tweedie distribution were applied to study the relationships between anchoveta and oceanographic parameters. The dependent variable was the value for anchoveta obtained from echosounder (nautical area scattering coefficient [NASC] of anchoveta) and the tested covariates were temperature, salinity, and dissolved oxygen at the sea surface; distance to the coast; year, latitude–longitude; and Oceanic Niño Index 1 + 2. The results show a high variability of anchoveta with seasonal differences in its distribution. Preferred abiotic conditions (temperature, salinity, oxygen) of anchoveta were 17.6–23.7°C, 32.30–35.14, and 5.9–8.7 ml/L in summer and 14.5–18.8°C, 34.81–35.12, and 5.2–6.3 ml/L in winter. The values in autumn and spring were intermediate and are considered as in transition. The anchoveta were detected at higher values after the 1997–1998 El Niño event, probably influenced by reduced standing stocks of congener fish species and by the Pacific decadal oscillation (PDO) or by a changes in climate.