Alewife

Alosa pseudoharengus

Alewife is a small anadromous clupeid that spends much of its life in coastal saltwater or large lakes and enters rivers to spawn. It is an important forage fish and is commonly taken incidentally by anglers rather than targeted as a sport species.

Freshwater

Alewife reference image — Smithsonian Environmental Research Center, cc-by, via Wikimedia Commons. Source: Wikimedia Commons.

Identification points

Bright silver body with a bluish-green back and a narrow, laterally compressed shape
Single row of sharp belly scutes, typical of shads and herrings
Deeply forked tail and a distinct dark shoulder spot just behind the gill cover

Habitat

Coastal waters, estuaries, large lakes, and lower river reaches; adults migrate into cool, flowing freshwater to spawn over sand, gravel, or rocky bottoms, often at night.

Bait notes

Small silver spoons, tiny jigs, Sabiki rigs, flies, and micro-plastics can take alewife when they are feeding or on a run. When legal and practical, small pieces of worm or shrimp may work, but they are rarely a primary target species.

Behavior

Schooling planktivore that filters zooplankton and small aquatic organisms. Spawning runs are seasonal and strong-timed by water temperature and flow; fish often concentrate below dams and in river mouths.

Caution

Check local rules before targeting or retaining them; some populations are managed as forage fish or are not commonly kept. Handle gently if releasing, as they are delicate and stress easily.

Fishing notes

Light spinning or fly tackle is best. Fish near surface schools, river mouths, and below dams during runs; use small, fast retrieves or drift rigs to match their size and schooling behavior.