where and how to catch blueback herring close to Charlotte?

**REELDAWG** · 02-03-2016, 02:46 PM

Looks like threadfin. Long dorsal fin and the Lowe jaw doesn't stick way out. The third and largest one might be a blueback. I can't tell. I have to see in person. Threadfin seem to also have a yellow tail. Bluebacks don't. Just what I've seen. How to catch?? This time of the year should be the easiest time to catch them. Look for warm water creeks. They should be in the backs of those creeks. If you can find a water treatment plant discharge that's where u need to be. There is a creek at Lanier that has a water treatment plant about a mile from lake. Herring are in the creek, literally, when lake gets below 50degrees. Creek is barely wide enough to turn boat around. One cast and your done.

**gabowman** · 02-03-2016, 02:46 PM

r2002, herring is caught in the lakes I fish by using a sodium light mounted to the side of the boat. What happens is the sodium light running off of a generator draws in the herring to the top of the water under the light and the instant the net is thrown the light goes out so the bait cannot see the net. The bait fishermen around here fish from a 23' skiff with a HUGH tank the size of a septic tank in the middle of their boat to transport the bait. This is how the commercial fishermen catch the bait they sell.

**pete** · 02-03-2016, 03:27 PM

Alwifes.
Ive been striper fishing for over 12 years. I know the difference between herring, alwifes, threadfin and gizzards.

Alwifes are not bad baits though. I do catch them mixed in with the herring.

**bioguy** · 02-03-2016, 03:38 PM

Originally Posted by pete

Alwifes.
Ive been striper fishing for over 12 years. I know the difference between herring, alwifes, threadfin and gizzards.

Alwifes are not bad baits though. I do catch them mixed in with the herring.

Pete you the man... here is a better pic of an alewife from Wylie. look very similar to bluebacks, I crack them open to look at their guts.

alewife.png.windowsviewer

**bioguy** · 02-03-2016, 03:43 PM

damn picture didn't want to upload,
here is a link if anyone cares to see an alewife vs blueback. TWRA - Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency - Alewife

heard they have been stocked through a private party, not SCDNR or NCWRC. Literature says they eat fish eggs, so not a good idea to have stocked them.

**pete** · 02-03-2016, 03:43 PM

broken link. what do you look for in the guts??

**pete** · 02-03-2016, 03:44 PM

oops. works now

**pete** · 02-03-2016, 03:56 PM

Just went through my archives.....this is all i had remaining after i went through and deleted hundreds of photos a few months back..

**Thumper1** · 02-03-2016, 04:03 PM

Originally Posted by pete

Alwifes.
Ive been striper fishing for over 12 years. I know the difference between herring, alwifes, threadfin and gizzards.

Alwifes are not bad baits though. I do catch them mixed in with the herring.

It's been longer than 12 years since we used to load up at Wateree isn't it? It seems longer than that. Of course I can't remember what I had for supper last night.

**bearclaw** · 02-03-2016, 06:23 PM

Jimmy Jones,a commercial bait man outside of Chester has Probally caught more herring and shad than anyone else around.He once told me that the only any to tell the difference is cut them open,,,the inside gut cavity of the blueback would be black and the alewife would be white...From what I have seen and caught I think the blue backs run a bit larger than the alewives that you catch in the lakes..The ocean run herring are much larger,10 to 12 " long.

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