A glimmer of hope for herring...
 

Snipped from CT DEP release...


The alewife run is going strong right now with sightings in many Connecticut tributaries. The fish counter at Mary Steube (Mill Brook, Old Lyme) is posting some good numbers and alewives are moving through the Moulson Pond (Eightmile River, Lyme) in large numbers. I was there on Saturday and saw them spawning below the dam and moving up through the fishway and millrace. Also strong runs on the Salmon and Moodus rivers and fish reported on the Coginchaug and Keeney Cove. Despite lack of reports from some other tributaries, it seems clear that they have penetrated throughout their typical range (more-or-less to the CT/MA line). Temperatures in the tributaries have ranged from 50 to 60 degrees (10 – 15.7 C) and spawning has begun. It is too early to make conclusions, but at this point it seems like a better run than last year’s. Of course, with low water and clear water, it is easier to see them, too.

Potentially pretty good news... Hope it lasts and keeps strong :btu:

CT is in their fourth or fifth year of increasing herring restrictions. They started by closing certain tribs on certain days. Then they closed all of the tribs to the CT River. Then they closed a whole section of the CT River. For the last 2-3 yrs the taking of herring from anywhere in the state has been banned.

It takes 4 years for this years spawn to return as mature adults. So we should be starting to see some of the fruits of the CTDEP's efforts this year and in years to come.

FWIW, I've seen more herring being smacked out of the water this year than the last three together on both major CT rivers, the CT and the Thames. Friends also report the same on the Housatonic. Here's hoping.

I had a conversation last year with one of the RI DEM people and he stated the scariest thing is the drop off between year class 4 fish coming back to the runs and year class 5...

Hope that changes

I hope they go beyond the three years moratorium.

When I started fishing the salt in 1997 I remember one obscure run in my home area that for a few weeks had 5 to 6 Bald Eagles, about 9 Ospreys, and over 12 Great Blue Herons along with a ton of gulls and crows working the herring. Only saw that for 98 and 99 if I rememeber correctly.

From what I've seen, the Canal run is in tough shape. Other than the first scouts I saw a week ago, it's been very sparse, at least during the day. One guy on FFSW says he's seeing tons of them coming thru at night and thinks they've adapted to avoid daylight predation from birds. I hope he's right, because without a good strong run, the bass won't stick around very long. :hs:

There are very few dead ones along the bottom, and that also isn't cause for hope--unless the gulls and herons are picking them as fast as they die.

Does any one know the actual statistic of how many Herring or what percentage of the total caught recreational fisherman were responsible for taking in prior years?

Interesting info...note the Blueback Herring numbers and the dates keeping in mind the Striper population decline timeline....


http://www.fws.gov/r5crc/Fish/oldcts.html