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Alewife

Alewife

Alewife are small, silvery forage fish found in New Jersey's coastal and tidal river systems, as well as landlocked populations in many inland lakes.

These schooling fish are primarily anadromous, spending most of their adult lives in the ocean but returning to freshwater to spawn.

Scientific Name: Alosa pseudoharengus

Also known as river herring

Physical Characteristics:
  • Small, silvery forage fish.
  • The species ranges from 8-12 inches typically, with adults reaching 210-265mm fork length.

What to know

Habitat Distribution

  • New Jersey's coastal and tidal river systems, landlocked populations in many inland lakes.
  • Alewife are the dominant river herring species in systems like the Mullica River-Great Bay Estuary in the Pine Barrens, one of the state's least disturbed estuaries.

Key Locations

  • Mullica River-Great Bay Estuary in the Pine Barrens, Delaware River, freshwater lakes in Morris, Passaic, Sussex, and Warren Counties, Spruce Run Reservoir in Hunterdon County.

Specific Spots

  • Shallow littoral zones for feeding and spawning, pelagic areas of lakes, near tributary mouths, freshwater-saltwater interfaces, shallow areas at night, deeper water during the day.

Alewife FAQ

Answers from onWater's species guide.

When is the best time to fish for Alewife in New Jersey?

Best fishing occurs outside spawning periods (avoid April-June), particularly in fall when juveniles concentrate near freshwater-saltwater interfaces before migrating to ocean waters. Spawning occurs from April-June in New Jersey rivers and June in lakes.

How do you catch Alewife in New Jersey?

Use permitted netting methods to target schooling fish in shallow areas at night.

What do Alewife eat?

Alewife are planktivorous filter feeders, with juveniles consuming zooplankton, insect larvae, and some fish larvae, while adults feed on insect larvae, zooplankton, mysid shrimp, copepods, and barnacle larvae. In estuarine waters juveniles feed extensively on calanoid copepods, barnacle larvae, and mysid shrimp.

Where do Alewife live in New Jersey?

New Jersey's coastal and tidal river systems, landlocked populations in many inland lakes. Alewife are the dominant river herring species in systems like the Mullica River-Great Bay Estuary in the Pine Barrens, one of the state's least disturbed estuaries.

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