At this moment the herring are stacked up. Won’t be long now https://www.plymouth-ma.gov/marine-and-environmental-affairs/pages/fish-camera

Be nice to see the numbers on how far short of target recovery has been

Up around the Boston area, they pretty much HAVE recovered. In fact, I keep wondering when they will let us dip a few for bait.
I remember the days about 20 years ago when you could still catch 25 a day (way more than needed for striper fishing; with
some kind of floating bait bucket, 10 would have been enough for several hours). I mean, that was the peak of the striper recovery,
when you had both stripers AND plenty of bait. Now, you have much of the second and hardly any of the first. I dunno, I think we
may never see live herring as bait again; I mean if they haven't opened the runs by now, when are they ever?

I don’t think you’ll ever see alewives as legal bait ever again

Heck they are trying to cut the mackeral down next year to rediculous levels for bait. They say they are in decline. I think the study is done off Wollaston beach. You can’t get a sabiki to the bottom when on the edge of the bank most days.

Geez. 10 alewives as bait in May in the north river will last ya about 45 mins. Just a magnet. Lots of fun.
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Some runs are rebounding and some not doing so well …
I volunteer to count ( not this year ) and my local run has dropped off something fierce….
I think lots of the state’s estuary recovery efforts came too late…..

I don’t think you’ll ever see alewives as legal bait ever again

Heck they are trying to cut the mackeral down next year to rediculous levels for bait. They say they are in decline. I think the study is done off Wollaston beach. You can’t get a sabiki to the bottom when on the edge of the bank most days.

Geez. 10 alewives as bait in May in the north river will last ya about 45 mins. Just a magnet. Lots of fun.
Posted from my iPhone/Mobile device

I agree with this... on all levels.. not often they take something away and then give it back.. eels will probably be next..
used to LOVE fishing with herring...I cant count the nights I spent getting my herring for the dawn bite, and be out of bait before the sun came full above the horizon..
I've seen bass go fussy on just about everything at one time or the.. other.. but I've never seen one refuse a herring...
as stated absolute magnets.

I agree with this... on all levels.. not often they take something away and then give it back.. eels will probably be next..
used to LOVE fishing with herring...I cant count the nights I spent getting my herring for the dawn bite, and be out of bait before the sun came full above the horizon..
I've seen bass go fussy on just about everything at one time or the.. other.. but I've never seen one refuse a herring...
as stated absolute magnets.

Being younger back then didn’t hurt either… LOL