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.
- Not a alewife? That one deeper body, bigger eye, shoulder spot. (Alewife)
- Not a blueback herring? That one blue-black back, spot. (Blueback Herring)
- Not a atlantic menhaden? That one big spot plus trailing spots. (Atlantic Menhaden)
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 a 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 has this: 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.