Alewifes

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These are a fish that sould be left in nature. They cannot be handled, otherwise they loose all their scales and die quickly. The last yacht I captianed had a several hundred gallon live well, two of them. You could crawl up in these things easily and have a party. We tried several times to keep herring alive in these big tanks to use for live bait. Never worked very well at all. Also, these fish have extremely fragile jaws. I don't see how you could catch them without damaging the fish. I also don't see how you are going to feed them and what you are going to house these in? You can't keep every fish that catches your eye.
 
I am going to try it either way.

what to feed them then?
 
I dont understand why you want to raise alewives, they are not very interesting silverly invasive fish, nor good pond fish. There are lots of opinions but after I read all of your thread, it appeared that you are fisherman not fishkeeper.
 
MultispeciesTamer;2567678; said:
I am going to try it either way.

what to feed them then?

GO FOR IT!

See the attached link;
http://www.state.nj.us/dep/fgw/pdf/fishfact/alewife.pdf

It looks like 6" would be considered large for an Alewife. You can feed juvies insect larvae and brine shrimp. I'll bet dollars to donuts that if you have a hungry shoal of them you could get them on to a good quality small pellet like 1mm NLS.

I recommend the bigest tank you can find-maybe a 200 gallon poly stock tank. They move fast so you don't want them crasshing into corners and decorations...

How are you going to collect the fish. Not with a fishing rod I hope...
Good luck and keep us posted.

:headbang2
 
Potts050;2567711; said:
GO FOR IT!

See the attached link;
http://www.state.nj.us/dep/fgw/pdf/fishfact/alewife.pdf

It looks like 6" would be considered large for an Alewife. You can feed juvies insect larvae and brine shrimp. I'll bet dollars to donuts that if you have a hungry shoal of them you could get them on to a good quality small pellet like 1mm NLS.

I recommend the bigest tank you can find-maybe a 200 gallon poly stock tank. They move fast so you don't want them crasshing into corners and decorations...

How are you going to collect the fish. Not with a fishing rod I hope...
Good luck and keep us posted.

:headbang2

kk that helps alot,

they dont come to shore till summer so i got a while, probly get them with either a sabiki rig or a cast net. Tank setup im not sure yet
 
I would work on proper housing for the fish in your signature before trying to keep others but that's just me, maybe I have my priorities messed up.
 
Sensitive, agressive, fast
dont try it
I read that if youre collecting Clupeids, ou should aquire a specimen under 2'' long
 
Skeeters;2567705; said:
I dont understand why you want to raise alewives, they are not very interesting silverly invasive fish, nor good pond fish. There are lots of opinions but after I read all of your thread, it appeared that you are fisherman not fishkeeper.


You say this like you can't be both. I'm offended:grinno:
 
Y shouldnt i try it?

Whats a few alewifes out of the millions in the great lakes gonna hurt? If they die, then they die then i wont keep them no more. big deal
 
MultispeciesTamer;2568288; said:
Y shouldnt i try it?

Whats a few alewifes out of the millions in the great lakes gonna hurt? If they die, then they die then i wont keep them no more. big deal

That is a scary attitude for someone who is making themselves responsible for another life.

It would be different if you were just fishing for them and killing them. That I have no problem with. But when you are taking an animal, any animal, under your care the idea is for it NOT TO DIE. Listen to those who know more then you. Let our wisdom transfer from us to you like glitter from a stripper.
 
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