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 […]
Harvesting alewives will begin on Wednesday, May 11. As in other years, harvesting will take place Monday through Friday at 5am and 3pm. There will be one exception— on Wednesday, May 11, the afternoon harvest will begin at 4pm so that the harvester and crew can take part in the annual FAC (Fishway Advisory Committee) […]
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 […]
A big school of alewives entered the fish ladder this morning and fish were already climbing pool to pool by the time I went for a look this morning. I was expecting to find fish—the sun was shining and it was warm (for early May in Maine), both good signs when waiting for alewives!It seems […]
Alewives were active in the bay last night, surging and leaping as a seal pushed into their midst. Osprey are actively catching fish…and eagles are close behind as the Osprey fly off, hoping to cause them to drop their catch.This morning a small group of alewives were in the fish ladder, making their way up […]
As the weather warms and with it, water temperatures, the alewives will be triggered to come in and begin their ascent of the fish ladder. The birds are ready for fish—groups of cormorants (called gulps) are organizing in the bay to dive on the fish the minute they arrive. Osprey are in the skies, waiting […]
Each spring, more than one million alewives navigate to the fresh water of Damariscotta Lake—with a little help BY ANNIE SHERMAN APRIL 26, 2022 Click here to read story
Osprey are flying high in the skies over Great Salt Bay, circling in search of alewives to feed their young. So far, we’ve seen them catch only smelts and flounder, two fish that we expect to be in the bay at this time of year. Eagles, cormorants and Great Blue Herons are also watching for […]