Saltwater · Year-round; best February to March and November to December at piers
Pacific Herring
Clupea pallasii
The Pacific herring is the great schooling forage fish of the BC coast, caught in Canada at piers from Vancouver to the north coast. Sabiki fishing peaks around the late-winter spawn; the fish are eaten fresh or pickled and used as bait.
Seasons · Peak
Identifying features
- Slender, strongly compressed silvery body with blue-green back
- Deeply forked tail and no lateral line scales enlarged
- Small mouth, no teeth on the roof in the herring pattern
- Scales are large, loose and shed very easily
- Belly is smooth and rounded, not saw-edged like shads
Habits
- Travels in huge silvery schools in bays and estuaries
- Comes inshore to spawn on beaches and eelgrass in late winter
- Feeds on plankton and small crustaceans
- A key forage fish for salmon, seals and seabirds
- Pier catches peak around the late-winter spawn
Distribution
Where to find them
- Piers around Vancouver, Victoria and Campbell River during the spawn
- Harbour mouths and estuaries on the BC north coast
- Sheltered bays around the Gulf Islands and Howe Sound
Where they live
How to catch them
Sabiki (herring jig) fishing at piers Shore
Rig: Sabiki rig with shiny hooks jigged vertically from piers where schools pass
Bait/lure: Sabiki rig, sometimes tipped with tiny shrimp bits
Key tip: Find the school and note the depth — herring hold layer after layer at the same depth.
Casting small spoons Shore
Rig: Light rod, small shiny spoon or jig cast to schools at harbour mouths
Bait/lure: Small spoon or jig
Key tip: At spawning beaches fish gently and follow local rules; the spawn run is brief and intense.
Best baits & lures
Baseline setup
- Rod: Light 7 ft spinning rod
- Line: 6-10 lb mono
- Terminal: Sabiki rigs, small spoons, dip net for schools
Recommended gear for this species
Rod · Best value
9' 5-weight fly rod outfit
≈ US$180-260
Covers chironomid lakes and small rivers with one setup.
Flies · Budget
Chironomid assortment (30 patterns)
≈ US$25-40
Chironomids are 60% of a lake rainbow's diet in spring.
Picks come from our rule library — never paid placements. Prices are guides; affiliate links may earn us a commission.
Typical size
Common 7-10 in; large fish to about 15 in
On the table
Good fresh or pickled — oily and flavourful; also widely used as bait for larger fish.
Similar species
Regulations vary by area and can change in-season — always check the official rules for your area before you fish. Regulations guide →
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