New Hampshire state waters, out to 3 miles
Cocheco, Oyster, and Taylor rivers closed; fishing prohibited around fishway closure areas.
NH F&G 2026 · checked · the official rulebook is the final word
Often mistaken for
Blueback herringBlue-black back, smaller eye — in hand, its gut lining is black. Tell them apart
Atlantic herringNo shoulder spot. Tell them apart
American shadMuch larger, spot row. Tell them apartKeep the wrong fish and its rule applies.
How to tell it
River herring with an eye WIDER than its snout is long; gray-green back, single shoulder spot, sawtooth belly keel. More on the alewife page: every state’s rule, the records, and how anglers catch it.
Alewife in other states11 rulebooks
Questions anglers ask4
What is the size limit for alewife in New Hampshire?
No size limit.
How many alewife can you keep in New Hampshire?
See Squamscott River special restrictions. Counts toward the River Herring aggregate.
When is alewife season in New Hampshire?
Closed weekly sunrise Wednesday to sunrise Thursday.
How current is this New Hampshire alewife rule?
Source: NH F&G 2026, last checked Sep 10, 2026. A watchman re-reads the agency's pages nightly. Rules change mid-season by proclamation; the official rulebook is the final word.
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