Is it illegal for MA tackle shops to sell alewife and blueback herring?
 

When the herring runs are going good, I don't see bait shops offering river herring for bait. Is it illegal?

I always wondered that

NO!!

Unless the laws have changed, I understand that bait and tackle shops can sell herring. The native americans can commercially sell the herring during the time of the herring run. The bait shop can purchase the herring from the native american(s) and then resell it to the public.

No it is not.

I have purchased live herring from a bait shop a couple years ago they had it in a huge live well in the middle of the store very costly
The shop was near the canal

That was most likely gary's shop CCC

BS4SHORE IS CORRECT,

The tribe on the vineyard sells them on the Cape $$$$$$

Or shall I say they have in the past,or shall I say that's what I have been told, or shall I say

vb

the only one who sell to the shops from MV is B.V.
we can also sell all we can get legally.
IMO it's not worth while & I would rather fish them myself.

If you are unable to get a herring permit, and want to fish during the herring run, it's hard to find a place that will sell some herring so you even have a small chance to catch a fish.

I imagine anyone that gets dead herring would prefer to fish them themselves and not sell them. You know a bass wont hit anything else when they are feeding on herring, and they always want live (well, most of the time).

I have seen Dead frozen Herrin in shops but never live. Herrin is such a pain in the A$$ that I don't even borther anymore!! I fish the Vinyard most of the time any how and they will take the scup there and you can get pleanty of that!!

not true:hs:

herring run
 

when the fishing is hot and heavy at the Run, you can catch soem nice fish ch#^&#^&#^&#^&#^&g chunks.....you get that gob-o-meat out there, and soem hungry line sider that hasn't got to munch yet will suck it down faster than a wino sucks a bottle of Wild Irish Rose. I gots me two of em last year to prove it...fish,,not winos that is:D

A couple of seasons ago we were getting fresh dead iced herring from Buddy V. about twice a week during the time of the run.
Last year he couldn't get enough herring to make it through all the bait shops on the cape and still have some left when he reached Buzzy Bay.
I would expect this season will be very much the same if not worst as far as numbers of herring available.