Too rough/cold for the herring
 

I stopped by the Middleboro herring run this past Saturday and came back to Quincy empty.

While there were three wardens there, the current was far too swift to allow any herring to congregate in the area used to take them.

A week earlier the current was fine but it was too cold. It took me about 45 minutes to get 48 herring. The few that were there were hanging in the middle of the brook. Whereas last year at this time they were so thick that they were flapping on the shores.

I can't wait for the days where it takes me longer to count em than it does to catch em.

Tuesday is looking good but the run is closed on that day.

By the way, I also checked out the Weymouth run. The current didn't seem too bad but I couldn't see any fish there as well.

Later,
Mike

Mike - I sincerely need to caution you against taking herring right now. These are prespawn herring and while "legal" to take as long as the rules are followed, you should wait until the herring drop down after spawning before taking them. It looks to be a rough herring year this year, for some of the reasons you mention and others, we're going to need everyone spawning that we can...

Thanks...

john...middleboro doesn't have a fish problem, they have a cold problem...i was talking to one of the fish wardens at the run sunday and the river temps dropped back down to 38 degrees...:eek:

get a couple of days to warm the water up again and the run will fill back up like it should be already...

John,

I appreciate your concern but the Middleboro run is an exceptionally well managed one and I trust the folks who run it.

As jettyjockey points out, the problem is with the cold (and now the current). I have 2 friends that went to the run on the last week in March - this was the first week the run is open to taking herring. It was warmer then (go figure) and they said it was loaded with herring. What I'm trying to say is that the first week of the run is supposed to be when it is just getting started and there were plenty of herring then so now it can only get better if the temps rise back up - much better.

At any rate, no one has been taking any significant amount ofherring out of there lately. A warden mentioned that there was a guy there the other day that spent 3 hours and only got 10 fish to show for it.

Jettyjockey, how did you make out Sunday. I know it was much warmer (air temp) but I presume the current was still too fast then as well?

Mike

sunday was just a sight seeing trip with the kids and my folks...the run was real thin...few dozen fish here and there, some in the ladders, few in the whitewater...nuttin like it should look for this time of year...don't know how many fish they gave out in the morning...

the current was raging, but this time of year you normally don't hafta get wet anyway...i don't usually jump in the drink until midmay...

You can leagally take 48 herring in one trip??:confused:

DO you need a permit in massachusetts

Flatts I am sure the run is well manged, however it is better for the fish and the future of the herring itself if we can all wait until the fish have had a chance to spawn. Spawning insures baby fish that will make up the run in a few years. No babies this year no herring a few years from now.
;)

Yes Bill, when the herring are running very thick you are allowed to take your weeks worth in one trip.

3 weeks ago the herring were across the river and as far as I could see, they were flipping on the shore and swimming thru the bushes since the water was so high. Actually the run itself could have been built wider and maybe more fish would have made it up the ladder as there was a major traffic jam.

Plenty of herring make it up to the ponds in the Middleboro run. The State actually removes herring to stock other runs to get them going, even RI runs! There are no worries about taking too many here in Middleboro. They do surveys and count them, it is very well managed.

Other smaller runs could use a break early on from taking herring so plenty will get to spawn, so that is a good idea at those particular runs.

Maybe I'll get my permit this year as it seems like the herring might still be running well into May this year. Last year I got my permit but didn't take any fish. I haven't kept any alive to fish with in 3 years.

There are plenty of herring up into Assuwampsett Pond, they have been there for at least a few weeks. Billy I have heard some disturbuing "rumors" about the Watertown run. There may be some rule changes on how you can net there but its still rumors.

Hi All,

I stopped by the Middleboro herring run today, about mid afternoon to see how things are. It was much better today than Saturday and Sunday. While I was there two men were accross the street, one was counting the herring and the other just observing. He stated that tomorrow morning (Tuesday) about 9:00am they will be transfering some herring. I would have liked to see this being done but I am making the trip to the Race so my fishing buddy can get his permit.

I am posting this info in case some of you guys would like to observe the process.

Tight lines, soon I hope.:) :) :)

Tony where did you hear this from, and what exactly did you hear?

slipknot...i get fresh bluebacks outta middleboro until at least memorial day weekend and usually can get fall backs into the beginning of june...about 5 years ago i got a full load of fall backs on june 14, but you gotta time it just right...

JohnR ===========Zero at the brook again todaY

:confused: :confused: :confused: :confused:

Billy someone complained about the way herring are being taken there. The town may try to step in and/or the state may change some regs there. Nothing as of now has been changed and these are just rumors, I'm not sure about anything yet.

JohnR T W O fish at the bride just now, maybe if they start late ,thet will spawn late ===which means a possible later drop time =which would be great//
The other place is loaded//////////////////////

:D :happy: :D

So cool!!

I went Friday night and I would estimate that the run was at 80% capacity. That is to say that they were swimming in the bushes but not flapping on the shores.

Got 48 in 10 minutes with no wait.

Mike