May 1, 2006
Weymouth Run Goes On!
All water issues relating to the herring run in Jackson Square are settled and a good healthy run is underway. Most runs on the South Shore have fish and good runs are expected.
Moratorium on the taking of Herring!
Empty herring runs add up to a 3 year moratorium on the taking of herring. State regulators have closed down the herring fisheries due to poor returns. This means NONE in possession. Please do your part by not taking any. Fish stocks need rebuilding. Stay informed on these and other restrictions to be implemented. Please check out your local herring runs and E-Mail us to let us know of your findings. Date and run name plus how many fish you see. Thanks
Nemasket River, Middleboro
Officials put March 10 as start date
The Taunton River watershed supports the largest herring spawning areas in the state. The Nemasket River a tributary of the Taunton River that snakes through Middleboro. It ends in Assawompset lake, where the fish spawn. There are also areas along the river where some of the fish spawn. Look across the dam in Middleboro center and you will see what I mean. There was a lot of fish in the fish ladder at the lower end. But while I stood with an official counter, the fish stopped moving. All the fish looked healthy and strong. A final tally to come when the run is over.
April 2, 2006
Nemasket River Herring run intact!
Great news from Middleboro! Herring fill the river! Bad weather and cold water temperatures for the last two years may have been the reason that the run was so poor. This year with no ice to melt, the river temps are probably warmer. Bank to bank fish can be seen from the ladder near Middleboro center to the park on Rte. 44. In 2000 more than 2,000,000 herring made the trip. It had been declining since. This year could see the big numbers return. Stay tuned.
April 9, 2006
"Billy Bob" and "Elmer" paid the run an early morning visit. The major part of the run is definitely over. There were still hundreds of fish visible throughout the run. We will contact Middleboro to find out what their estimate of fish numbers are. Still this year's run seems to be a real strong one based on the fact that fish started moving upstream of the dam one month ago and still the late comers straggle in.
April 26, 2006 Nemasket still very active. Mare-E and Me traveled down the Nemasket River from the outfall of Assawompset Pond to the fish ladder in Middleboro center. See (Nemasket River Kayak Trip) When we got down to the fish ladder my son and his family were waiting. They told me to look at all the fish in the pool below the ladder. And lo and behold, there were still lots of fish in the water and fish ladder. I know that some of them were probably post spawn, returning to the sea. As officials stated the run started March 10, then this years run has to be one of the best in years.
Canal run started. Last week in April sees first fish in the canal run.
Get out now and bring the kids to see this annual spectacle!