Species guide
How to catch Pacific herring
Clupea pallasii
The Pacific herring is a schooling fish known for migrating inshore to spawn, with some landlocked populations in lakes. It exhibits high salinity tolerance in early life stages and is a predator feeding on various small marine creatures. This species plays an important role in coastal ecosystems and is valued as a game fish.
Where they live
Found in shallow to deep coastal waters across the North Pacific and Atlantic, and also in some freshwater and brackish environments, especially near North America and Asia. It migrates inshore to breed and can be present in localized, landlocked lake populations.
Typical size
Up to about 46 cm
What they eat
- Small fish species
- Young herring
- Macrofauna such as sand lance
- Juvenile rockfish
- Various small marine organisms
Best baits
- Small fish strips
- Shrimp
- Worms
- Small chunks of baitfish
Best lures
- Small spoons
- Soft plastic minnow imitations
- Light jigs
- Small spinners
How to fish for them
- Casting small lures near shore
- Trolling with light tackle
- Chumming to attract schools
- Float fishing with bait
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