The San Francisco Herring Spawn | the last great urban fishery
Written by The Last Anchovy
Introduction
Have you heard of the annual pacific herring spawn? The annual herring spawn marks an important cycle in the San Francisco bay. In the dearth of winter the pacific herring sparks life into the waters of the bay from Sausalito, Ferry point to Coyote point and all along the shoreline of the San Francisco Bay.
Every year hundreds of people across central and Northern California anxiously await the fish as they make their annual migration into the bay to get their spawn on. The herring spawn is an exciting time for recreational fisherman, families and nature enthusiast. It is one of the last great urban fisheries that still reside in California, and a treat for enthusiast and fellow herring hunters like me.
Herring Hunting Tips from Eddie “The Sturgeon”
Eddie “The Sturgeon” is the man in San Pablo bay when you are looking to land big sturgeon, but he knows a thing or two about hunting herring, and shares his thoughts with us. “The herring spawn is a great event in the middle of the winter that invigorates the waters of the bay with life, and excites the local fishing community”, says Eddie.
Here are some of helpful herring hunting tips from Eddie:
- Study pass spawning locations of herring and try to anticipate the spawn before it happens.
- Keep your eyes on the water, and look for birds, sea lions, seagulls and marine life that will indicate if the fish are migrating to that location.
- Throw a few test toss to see if the fish are possibly there. If only a few are caught it can be an indication that the larger spawn is not far off.
- Stay connected with the local herring hunting community to know when a spawn is imminent or happening.
- Jump and be ready to go when there is a confirmed report.
Historical Context
Historically the pacific herring have had strong returns. The department of fish and wildlife biologist has followed the herring spawn since 1979.
This chart marks the decline of the pacific herring spawn population.
Did you know the Pacific Herring has been on the decline?
Read this article here
“William Sydeman, a senior scientist with the Farallones Institute, based in Petaluma, has studied long-term trends in Pacific herring abundance. He notes that San Francisco Bay’s herring population has waxed and waned for decades, with estimates jumping up and down from year to year, as seen in bar graphs produced by the California Department of Fish and Wildlife.
But in late 2014, the population abruptly nosedived as the fish’s total abundance, or “biomass” in ecologists’ jargon, plunged from an estimated 60,600 tons in the winter of 2013-14 to less than 17,000 tons the next year. The population has remained below 19,000 tons since, with last year’s number dipping to 8,500 tons — the second-lowest return on record after 2008-09’s biomass of 4,800 tons.”
If the empirical data is correct; there should be great concern for herring hunters. There can be a myriad of reason for the collapse of the herring run, however, the author goes on to speculate it is because of global warming. I’m not sure, I’m not a scientist, but based on empirical data there is a decline.
Herring Spawn Updated Regulations 2020
On October 19, 2019 the California Fish and Game commission took action on setting an upper limit on the capture of the keep of the pacific herring as part of their comprehensive herring fishery management plan. Historically, there has never been an upper limit on this fishery.
Starting February 2020, there will be an upper limit of 2 five-gallon buckets per day. Their reasoning is based on recreational fisherman selling herring on the black market and to supermarkets. Limiting recreational take to (2) five gallon buckets per day, in staff’s reasoning, will make it easy to regulate the fishery.
The Pacific Herring Migration
The migration of the herring starts in earnest in December after the first major storms. The fish enter through the historic golden gate bridge and stage outside the bay shorelines waiting for the opportune moment to rush the shore line to lay their eggs along the abundant eel grass and rocks of the bay.
The majority of the herring spawn happens through out January and into early February with herring hunters frantically chasing the fish around in anticipation of the spawn.
Commercial and recreational fishery
Through the years the spawn has garnered a cult like following for this beloved fish. Recreational fisherman fill buckets and coolers using hand-throw nets and sabikis, while the commercial herring industry use gill nets. The bulk of the commercial herring catch is harvested for the roe, which is sent to the Japan, and international markets for consumption. The herring byproduct is sent to processing plants to be used as cat food, fertilizers or other industrial uses.
The recreational fishery has a long history with this beloved fish. There is even an annual herring festival held in Sausalito to honor the herring spawn with artwork and culinary dishes made from the spawning herring. Recreational herring hunters mainly use the fish for food or for bait.
The tiny little fish can be fried, steamed, smoked or pickled if you choose to consume them. I have a strict; do not eat your bait TLA policy so herring are off the table for me. However, kayak fishing and sex herring is a match made in heaven. I believe there are few fish that make better bait than sex herring. Maybe it is the pheromones they release when they get it on but they sure do draw a lot of attention by large predators like, Kings Salmon, California Halibut, Rockfish and Lingcod, Thresher sharks, rays, and sturgeon.
Conclusion
One of my many life joys has been able to participate in the annual herring run when it began in earnest with a handful of recreational fisherman nearly a decade ago. Herring hunting wasn’t a recreational fishing phenomenon like it is today, and that is good thing – It is growing.
I dreamt of a day where families partake in this event. Where parents take their kids to witness this event and teach them to forage for their food and spark a life long passion for fishing and the outdoors. From a small group of dedicated herring hunters it has grown to become a wide spread event with friends, families and enthusiast partaking in this natural wonder.
However, as things grow in popularity, we have a responsibility to maintain the health of this resource for the next generation. We MUST be good stewards for the fishery and our environment. I strongly urge to read my article “Becoming a responsible herring hunter”.
It is my sincere hope that everyone has a chance to witness and participate in this last great urban fishery. As we say in the herring hunting community – go and get your SPAWN ON!
From the posts, it looks like the main Sausalito spawn is on.
Having worked down here a while back, I miss the Herring runs in Richardson Bay.
I would walk along the shore and I could smell the Herring when they were running.
The Herring run in Humboldt Bay has just started and a few boats and shore fishers have
been picking them up. I’m headed out to check it out tomorrow.
Sizeable concentrations of schools have been reported around the Bay.
One large school spotted between the two marinas.
Crescent City Harbor is still a ways off from their run but a few early scouts were reportedly caught in the Harbor. Maybe still two weeks out for the main run.
Well the run in the middle of Humboldt Bay was only 2 days.
They were gone today, Wednesday after two big catch days.
We looked all around the Bay and found no sign of Herring
birds working the schools or Harbor Seals feeding.
I didn’t look at the Eel Grass beds in the Upper Bay.
That is their normal spawning area.
That may be where they went to spawn.
If we don’t see them again here in Humboldt Bay we’ll just
wait for Crescent City Harbor to have their run.
That area is the best, most consistent place around to get
Herring here in our neck of the woods. Concentrated too.
Most of the time it’s multi week runs and spawn.
The wife and I were at Salitos for a few hours from 10:00 pm to 12:00am. We had only one net , ending up catching about 4 dozen. About 12:30 , went to Spinakers and caught another dozen.
This is our first time using cast nets. Had a lot of fun , being a newbie with the cast net. May try again tomorrow
That is a funny picture 😂
First year trying it, probably going to love it!
I am ready for the run this year.