SlotGaugeCheck a catchRiver Herring regulations in New York
· Saltwater · 2026 season
River Herring size limit, season and daily limit
| Where | Season | Size limit | Daily limit |
|---|---|---|---|
| Marine waters south of the GW Bridge | Closed to harvest | — | — |
| Hudson River north of the GW Bridge | March 15 – June 15 | No size limit | 10 per angler or 50 per boat |
Exact NYSDEC wording
- Season
- March 15 - June 15
- Size
- None
- Limit
- 10 per angler or 50 per boat
- Hudson River north of George Washington Bridge — as printed
- “Anadromous river herring (alewife and blueback herring) (north of George Washington Bridge) No size limit 10 per angler or 50 per boat March 15 - June 15”
- South of George Washington Bridge — as printed
- “Anadromous river herring (south of George Washington Bridge) No possession”
Source: NYSDEC, captured 2026-10-04 (2026 season).
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About the river herring
Species of North American shad
The alewife or river herring is a species of herring found in North America. It is commonly anadromous but there are also significant landlocked populations. It is one of the smaller species of shad, of the subgenus Pomolobus. As an adult it is a marine species found in the northern West Atlantic Ocean, moving into estuaries before swimming upstream to breed in freshwater habitats, but some populations live entirely in fresh water.
Read more about Alewife (fish) on Wikipedia →
Text from Wikipedia, CC BY-SA 4.0. Regulations on this page come from NYSDEC, not Wikipedia.
Frequently asked
What is the size limit for River Herring in New York?
No size limit in New York state waters.
How many River Herring can you keep per day in New York?
No daily limit.
When is River Herring season in New York?
Open year-round.
Is my River Herring a keeper today?
River Herring is closed to harvest. Release it.