Pacific Herring
Clupea pallasii
Also known as: Herring; Pacific Herring
Size & Weight
Average Length
10.8"
Max Length
18.0"
Average Weight
0.3 lbs
Max Weight
1.5 lbs
Lifespan
19 years
Habitat
Depth Range
0 - 1500 ft
Water Temp
45-55°F
Coastal; bays; estuaries for spawning; schooling
Behavior
Spawning Season
Winter-spring (spawn in bays/eelgrass)
Migration: Migrate from ocean to bays/estuaries to spawn; return to ocean
Diet: Plankton; small crustaceans; fish larvae
Fishing Tips
PNW Season
Year-round; spawning closures
Techniques: Dip netting (when legal); sabiki rigs; jigging
Best Bait: Tiny jigs; flies
Eating Quality
Edibility
Good
Oily; excellent smoked; roe highly valued
Fun Facts
Roe (kazunoko) valuable; spawn on eelgrass/kelp; important forage fish; herring balls at surface
How to Identify
Silver body with dark blue-green back; deeply forked tail; no adipose fin; vital forage species; key to marine food webs
Official Resources
Sources: WDFW; ODFW; CDFW; NOAA
Change History (Last updated Feb 02, 2026 at 10:33 AM)
| Date | Change | Old Value | New Value |
|---|---|---|---|
| Feb 02, 2026 10:33 AM | Updated Avg Length | — | 10.8 |