herring

[tom crowley]

Does anyone out there fish for herring? I've caught a few over the years but I was wondering if its worth casting for them when the wind is not out of the north at 40MPH?

[suburbanangler]

Does anyone out there fish for herring? I've caught a few over the years but I was wondering if its worth casting for them when the wind is not out of the north at 40MPH?

Tom:

I've fished for herring of the Northern Monmouth County, NJ beaches many times. Both for hickory shad (I think these are actually large herring) in the Spring/Early Summer, and sea herring in winter.

The hickory shad I have caught off jetties, primarily on a 7 or 8 wt flyrod, w/intermediate WF line, and small, (size 6) brightly colored Clouser minnows. They put up a good fight, and jump out of the water often.

The sea herring I've caught have been mainly at some of the coastal river inlets. These I've caught primarily on "bait-catching" rigs (Sabiki rigs) using a light 8 foot spinning rod. These herring seem to be quite a bit smaller than hickory shad, and I've only caught them in the winter, early spring.

I've heard that people have been catching herring out of the Shark River and Manasquan Inlets in late December, but I don't think many people have been fishing in Jan. due to the extreme cold. "The Fisherman" weekly magazine seems to include a couple of mention of the herring fishing in its local reports.

[nyflyguy]

Tom,
Have fished for what I call Herring (Hickory Shad) during all time of the year using basically the same rig you use. Picked up a 10' 7wt., use 8wt IS and size 4-6 sand eel patterns from 2-4" in length. Have caught them in NY/North Shore area in Suffolk, LI, in river/stream mouths in all types of weather and in every month of the year. They're a gas. --127-3-