Atlantic Herring
Clupea harengus
Also called Sea herring.
How to tell it
Classic slim silver herring — no spots, no threads; deep-blue back over bright chrome.
Often mistaken for
Three fish that get called Atlantic herring, and what gives each one away.
- Alewife: Deeper body, bigger eye, shoulder spot. Tell them apart
- Blueback herring: Blue-black back, spot. Tell them apart
- Atlantic menhaden: Big spot plus trailing spots. Tell them apart
Rules for
Every state
| State | Size | Bag | Season | Today |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Massachusetts | No size limit | No bag limit | Open year-roundMA DMF 2026 · likely · checked | Open |
| New Hampshire | No size limit | No bag limit | Open year-roundNH F&G 2026 · checked | Open |
Not specifically regulated in Alabama, Connecticut, Delaware, Florida (Atlantic), Florida (Gulf), Georgia, Louisiana, Maine, Maryland, Mississippi, New Jersey, New York, North Carolina, Rhode Island, South Carolina, Texas, Virginia: each state’s rule for unlisted species applies there (on its page).
State records
| State | Weight | When, where | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| Maine | 0.1 lb | 2004 · Perry | Maine DMR Saltwater Angler Records (Rod & Reel) · checked 2026-08-23 |
On the table
Bait here, dinner in Scandinavia.
In the app
Point the camera at an Atlantic herring and the name appears before you take the picture, with these rules for the water you’re standing in. No signal needed, and every catch goes in the log.
Get the appQuestions anglers ask about Atlantic herring
How do you tell Atlantic herring from alewife?
Atlantic Herring: Classic slim silver herring — no spots, no threads; deep-blue back over bright chrome. Alewife: deeper body, bigger eye, shoulder spot.
What is the record Atlantic herring?
0.1 lb in Maine (2004), Perry. Other states’ records are in the table.