River Herring

Source: Species facts, status language, and imagery adapted from the NOAA Fisheries species profile (last updated 05/22/2025). Ocean City charter and Maryland record notes are editorial orientation for OCEANCITY.MD readers. Always confirm current seasons, sizes, and bag limits before you fish—rules change.

About the species

River herring (alewife and blueback herring) are migratory fish that range along the East Coast from Florida to Maine. They spend most of their life cycle in the marine environment, returning every four to five years to their natal rivers to spawn. Juvenile river herring typically migrate back to the marine environment in the fall. Once out of the river, they may use the estuary for extended periods before migrating in the open ocean.

Historically, river herring populations reached into hundreds of millions. Returning to coastal rivers every spring, these fish supported some of the oldest fisheries in the United States.

River herring are prey for important recreational and commercial species, such as cod, haddock, and striped bass.

Over the years, river herring populations have declined due to habitat loss associated with dams, road crossings and other development activities, overfishing as a direct fishery and as bycatch, pollution, and other factors.

Maryland record catch

Confirm whether Maryland DNR publishes an Atlantic state-record category for River Herring on the current sport-fish record board.

Verify on Maryland DNR — Sport Fish State Records . Record boards change when DNR accepts a new fish.

Maryland size & bag limits

Maryland’s Atlantic recreational seasons/sizes/creel summary does not publish a dedicated line for River Herring. Verify COMAR, DNR public notices, and federal rules for your exact waters before you keep fish.

Editorial only — verify before you keep a fish. Confirm current seasons, sizes, and creel on Maryland eRegulations — Atlantic seasons, sizes & limits . Rules change; this page is orientation, not the legal digest. Also see verify regulations.

Population & fishing rate

See the NOAA species profile for current stock status language for this entry.

Appearance

• See the NOAA illustration and profile for River Herring identification characters.

Biology

• See the NOAA species profile for biology notes on River Herring.

Where they live

Range

• See the NOAA species profile for range notes on River Herring.

Habitat

• See the NOAA species profile for habitat detail for this entry.

Ocean City & Mid-Atlantic context

From Ocean City, Maryland, use this River Herring profile as NOAA Mid-Atlantic directory context—not a promise you will meet the species on every charter.

Always verify current Maryland and federal size, season, and bag rules for your exact date and coordinates before you keep any catch.

Source facts and imagery are adapted from the NOAA Fisheries species profile for River Herring.

What charter to book from Ocean City

River Herring may appear on Ocean City trips depending on season and habitat—use the NOAA biology below and book the charter archetype that matches how you will actually fish.

Possible / related

• Bay guide — Possible overlap depending on season, water, and boat program.
• Inshore charter — Possible overlap depending on season, water, and boat program.
• Casting / light tackle — Possible overlap depending on season, water, and boat program.
• Nearshore wreck / bottom — Possible overlap depending on season, water, and boat program.
• Offshore charter — Possible overlap depending on season, water, and boat program.
• Head / party boat — Possible overlap depending on season, water, and boat program.

Not typical from OC

• Trolling charter — Not a typical Ocean City trolling charter target for River Herring.

Start with the charter directory trip-type picker so you compare boats inside the right archetype—not a bay-guide quote against a canyon invoice.

Related reading

• Plan a fishing day in Ocean City — Pick the trip archetype before you chase a species story.
• Charter directory stubs & trip-type picker — Compare boats inside the right archetype.
• Verify Maryland fishing regulations — DNR + NOAA steps before you keep any fish from an OC trip.
• Nearshore wreck fishing hub — Structure days from West Ocean City.
• Offshore sport fishing hub — Canyon and bluewater context from Ocean City.

Fishery management

• In August 2013, we determined that listing alewife and blueback herring as threatened or endangered under the ESA was not warranted.
• August 12, 2013: Not Warranted Listing Determination for Alewife and Blueback Herring However, we also noted that there were significant data deficiencies. In that determination, we committed to revisiting the status of both species in three to five years, a period after which ongoing scientific studies, including a river herring stock assessment update by the Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission, would be completed.
• In August 2017, we initiated a status review to determine if listing alewife and blueback herring under the ESA as endangered or threatened is necessary.
• August 15, 2017: Initiation of a Status Review for Alewife and Blueback Herring In June 2019, we completed the status review and determined that listing alewife and blueback herring under the ESA was not warranted.
• June 18: 2019: Not Warranted Listing Determination for Alewife and Blueback Herring

Harvest

• See the NOAA wild-caught fishery section for landings and gear notes when published for this species.

Landings and management details matter most for the waters where River Herring is actually fished—see the NOAA species profile .

Scientific classification

Plan the rest of the trip