Reduced Daily Limits on American Shad and Herring

Well we all know it was coming. Here are the fishing regs for the BIG D.


Reduced Daily Limits on American Shad and Herring
American Shad Limit Reduced to Three
American shad and river herring (includes blue back and alewife herring) are anadromous, migrating
every spring into freshwater to spawn. Atlantic coast stocks of these species are depressed and
have been declining due to a multitude of factors. The Delaware River Basin Plan for American
shad sets a population goal estimate of 750,000 shad for a two-year period. The last year the shad
population was estimated to meet this goal was in 1989. In 2006 and 2007, the two most recent
years that population studies were conducted, population estimates were 114,000 and 181,600
shad, respectively. Due to concerns of the declining fishery, the daily limit for American shad has
been reduced from six to three.

Herring Limit Reduced to Ten Per Day
Recent stock assessments have identified that many populations of river herring, including both
blueback and alewife herring, are in decline or at depressed but stable levels along the Atlantic Coast.
From 1985 to 2004, the National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS), has documented approximately
a 90 percent decline in commercial landings of river herring from 13.7 million pounds to 1.33 million
pounds. More recently, total coastwide river herring landings reported by member states and
jurisdictions of the Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission have ranged between 900,000
to 1.5 million pounds. Concern for declining stocks of river herring has resulted in several states
completely closing their herring fisheries. Due to identified coastwide concerns, the daily creel
limit of 35 for baitfish, has been amended to provide that no more than 10 of the total 35 baitfish
allowed may be alewife or blueback herring, in the aggregate. This reduction is statewide and also
applies to the Delaware River where herring are regulated as a food fish.
Possession of purchased herring in excess of the daily limit of 10 is permitted provided that the
person fishing is in possession of a receipt, dated within seven days, with the name, address and
telephone number of the supplier, and quantity purchased. The receipt

Guys and Gals this is For NJ in the Delaware.