We are on week three of extreme social distancing over here, and it's getting rough. We are getting antsy over here. The weather hasn't been the greatest and the lack of things to do and places to go is started to wear on us.
This week we heard that the herring should be starting their long journey to local ponds for spawning. I fondly remember visiting the Stony Brook Gristmill in Brewster as an elementary school student while on a field trip with my class. Watching the herring swim upstream I remember feeling amazing at how this small fish could possibly manage such a feat. I thought perhaps my own children would feel the same way.
This morning I explained to my kids, who are very enthusiastic about everything outdoors, fishing in particular, how river herring swim against the current upriver to find ponds to spawn in. We are fortunate to live near three locations where you can potentially see the herring, so we made some predictions and set out on our journey. It was freezing cold and the herring typically do not run unless the weather is consistently around 50, but we had to get out of the house. We visited the three spots, and there was no herring to be seen, no surprise as it was a balmy 41degrees. They did however see how people are working on making the river systems more passable for the herring to help with the growth of the species. We also saw fish ladders which help the herring get upstream more successfully.
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We will be checking back soon as the weather improves in hopes to see some herring making their way upstream. If you are looking for a reason to get out of the house, check out your local herring run too!
Here are a few spots where you could see the herring running:
- Herring River, Wellfleet
- Bridge Pond and Herring Pond, Eastham
- Pilgrim Lake, Orleans
- Lover’s Lake, Chatham
- Stony Brook, Brewster
- Herring River, Harwich
- Bound Brook and Scargo Lake, Dennis
- Tom Mathews Pond and Long Pond, Yarmouth
- Mill Creek, Sandwich
- Mashpee River, Quashnet River and Santuit Pond, Mashpee
- Cedar Lake and Coonamessett River, Falmouth
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You can read more here at the Association to Preserve Cape Cod
Have you seen the herring? Tell us in the comments!
