Fish Happenings

Fewer fish came in this morning than in previous mornings but there are still plenty of alewives to see if you visit the fish ladder today (and for the next few days). As the run comes to an end, smaller alewives tend to bring up the rear. Most alewives during the run are 4 years […]

The 5k road race is underway as I write this and, despite the predicted showers, several of our volunteers will be at the fish house today selling fish ladder t-shirts and other fish ladder swag. Look for even more fun tomorrow, when our famous fisheye pudding ice cream will be available. Not a whole festival […]

It is truly a banner year for alewives! They are in by the thousands — everywhere you look, there are fish! They are streaming in by the fish house, the fish ladder is full, and they are passing into Damariscotta Lake by the thousands. It’s an amazing time to visit the fish ladder! If you […]

Alewives are in thick! If you stand on the Route 215 bridge and look into the water in either direction you’ll see solid alewives. The same is true in the waters by the fish house and the run leading up to the fish ladder entrance and the harvesting area. Most importantly, alewives by the thousands […]

The run is fully underway now. Alewives have moved up into every pool in the fish ladder and many are passing into the lake to spawn.  We’ve been harvesting since Wednesday and many lobstermen have left with totes full of fish, which are the very best bait! Osprey are diving for fish right by the fish […]

The alewives didn’t make a strong showing yesterday but this morning fish were streaming into the fish ladder and the harvesting area. It was a perfect showing for the first harvest, a few bushels of alewives for Mulligans Smokehouse. The fish are being brined and will soon be smoked—anyone wanting a treat of smoked alewives […]

If you’re planning to visit the Damariscotta Mills fish ladder as your Mother’s Day outing, you’re in luck! Another school of alewives came in this morning and we expect that they’ll be making their way up the fish ladder throughout the day. The run should increase in numbers in the next few days and, if […]

For the past three mornings, a school of alewives has come in and the fish have begun working their way up the fish ladder. Enough fish have made it through the 69 pools that make up the fish ladder for counting to begin. Counting is done for 10 minutes of every hour between 6am and […]