SlotGaugeCheck a catchAlewife / Blueback Herring (freshwater lakes) regulations in New Jersey
Baitfish · Freshwater · 2026 season
Alewife / Blueback Herring (freshwater lakes) size limit, season and daily limit
| Where | Season | Size limit | Daily limit |
|---|---|---|---|
| Freshwater lakes in Morris, Passaic, Sussex and Warren counties, and Spruce Run Reservoir | Open year-round | under 6 inches | 35; unused herring must be returned to the lake, may not be transported away or sold |
| Greenwood Lake | Open year-round | under 6 inches | 35; unused herring must be returned to Greenwood Lake |
| All other freshwater lakes | Closed to harvest | — | — |
| All freshwater streams, rivers and marine waters | Closed to harvest | — | — |
Notes
- You may only catch herring for bait in lakes in Morris, Passaic, Sussex and Warren counties plus Spruce Run Reservoir (and Greenwood Lake).
- Use them on that lake and return any leftovers — herring cannot leave the shoreline.
- Everywhere else (rivers, streams, saltwater) river herring are fully protected.
Exact NJDEP Fish & Wildlife wording
- Season
- Open year-round in listed lakes only; closed everywhere else
- Size
- 6 inches maximum
- Limit
- 35 (listed lakes only)
- Freshwater lakes in Morris, Passaic, Sussex and Warren counties, and Spruce Run Reservoir — as printed
- “Herring, Alewife and Blueback | All freshwater streams, rivers and marine waters | CLOSED | Possession, take or attempt to take herring PROHIBITED ; Freshwater lakes in Morris, Passaic, Sussex and Warren counties, and Spruce Run Reservoir (Hunterdon) | 6 inches maximum | 35 Any unused herring must be returned to the water upon conclusion of the angler’s fishing trip. Herring may not be transported away from the shoreline of these lakes by any mechanism. They may not be sold. ; All other freshwater lakes (regardless of ownership) | CLOSED | Only purchased herring, no greater than 6 inches, may be possessed. Receipt of purchase, dated within 7 days, must be in possession.”
Source: NJDEP Fish & Wildlife, captured 2026-10-04 (2026 season).
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About the alewife / blueback herring
Species of fish
The blueback herring, blueback shad, or summer shad is an anadromous species of herring from the east coast of North America, with a range from Nova Scotia to Florida. Blueback herring form schools and are believed to migrate offshore to overwinter near the bottom.
Read more about Blueback herring on Wikipedia →
Text from Wikipedia, CC BY-SA 4.0. Regulations on this page come from NJDEP Fish & Wildlife, not Wikipedia.
All 62 New Jersey species A–Z →
Frequently asked
What is the size limit for Alewife / Blueback Herring (freshwater lakes) in New Jersey?
under 6 inches in New Jersey state waters.
How many Alewife / Blueback Herring (freshwater lakes) can you keep per day in New Jersey?
35; unused herring must be returned to the lake, may not be transported away or sold.
When is Alewife / Blueback Herring (freshwater lakes) season in New Jersey?
Open year-round.
Is my Alewife / Blueback Herring (freshwater lakes) a keeper today?
A alewife / blueback herring (freshwater lakes) is a keeper today if it measures under 6 inches, with a daily limit of 35.