So, If I go to the canal during the herring run, and try to snag a few "beyond" the white "no snagging zone" signs, will that be OK ?
Is that "open ocean" ?

You would still be in possesion, and therefore be illegal

the law reads ; "possesion. weather live or dead. elwife river herring ,you cant possess.... a sea herring thats another thing. all us herrin choakers loose. at the canal i would fish with macs,sea herring. i,m sure the bait shops will come up with something. i like home made bait balls:

We usually would catch our herring below the dam on the merrimack and liveline or drift the dead ones (sometimes the dead ones actually worked better than the live ones) . This year we plan on using ocean herring seeing how they are still legal. We figure ocean herring is better than no herring and see no reason they won't work just as well.

If you intend on using ocean herring, make sure you know the difference between them and river herring ;)

Look/feel for the saw scales on the belly!

Are the saw scales the only difference? Any pictures for comparison?

IMO they look completely different.

Generally, the ocean herring I bought for bait were larger than the river herring I caught myself. They (ocean herring) were also fuller bodied.

If you buy/use Sea Herring for bait up by the Essex Dam in Lawrence, I'd have a receipt with me, just in case. Might save some grief.

a trained eye will know..""i have caught many; many ,elwife +blue back herrin ,in my local rivers. fished w/ both ''''same time boat or cc canal . i ve fished for tuna for way too many yrs w/ sea herrin. got them right off the boat out in cc bay . ive seen um fresh and not fresh /red bellymush. """"" look at the body shape, sea herring have ,smoother body ; head and tail come more to a point , body color is more faded blue to silver, even eyes are larger.if sea herrin are real fresh they will still have some scales,,if u r lucky.?? river herrin look more like there cousin the hickery shad, or the american shad same basic famly; .all return to fresh water to spawn and etc. sea herrin do not ... ok simple and easy ?????i hope this help someone.u will not get hugs and kisses from the E P Os this yr if you dare''''enjoy..

Thanks for all the replys, I certainly know what a a sea herring is, good bait. Hmm, mackerel and sea herring...