Maine state waters, out to 3 miles
Hook and line or dip net only, personal use; runs under municipal lease follow the town's harvest plan instead.
ME DMR 2026 · checked · the official rulebook is the final word
Often mistaken for
AlewifeBigger eye, gray-green back, pale gut lining. Tell them apart
Atlantic herringNo shoulder spot. Tell them apartNot listed by Maine: the default applies (No size limit, no bag limit).
Keep the wrong fish and its rule applies.
How to tell it
The alewife's twin with a blue-black back and smaller eye; told apart for sure by the black gut lining. More on the blueback herring page: every state’s rule, the records, and how anglers catch it.
Blueback herring in other states14 rulebooks
Questions anglers ask4
What is the size limit for blueback herring in Maine?
No size limit.
How many blueback herring can you keep in Maine?
25 river herring per day (alewife + blueback combined). Counts toward the River herring aggregate.
When is blueback herring season in Maine?
Open year-round; non-leased brooks, rivers and streams closed 6 AM Thursday to 6 AM Sunday weekly.
How current is this Maine blueback herring rule?
Source: ME DMR 2026, last checked Sep 20, 2026. A watchman re-reads the agency's pages nightly. Rules change mid-season by proclamation; the official rulebook is the final word.
In the appPoint the camera at a blueback herring in Maine and this rule is on the screen before you take the picture. No signal needed.
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