Atlantic Thread Herring(Opisthonema oglinum)

Quick Facts

  • Other Names: Threadfins, Greenies
  • Size Range: Up to 8 inches
  • Native Species?: Yes

The Atlantic thread herring is an oval, yet flat-shaped fish with horizontal lines on a silver body. They have a greenish colored back and a thread-like extension of their dorsal fin, hence their name. They also have a prominent black spot behind the upper part of the gill flap.

They live in coastal areas of the southern Atlantic and filter feed in large schools. They are often seen shimmering at the surface, or as big clouds on sonar. Often birds such as pelicans and gannets feed on them.

The thread herring is caught in nets or on sabiki rigs and used for bait for other types of fish like grouper and snapper. They can also be slow trolled or drifted for pelagics like kingfish, tuna, dolphin and billfish. They need constant new seawater brought into the well in order to keep this fragile baitfish alive. They can also be used for cut bait as their flesh is oily.

Related Habitats:
Other Bait Fish Species: Gulf Killifish Golden Shiner Striped Mojarra Round Scad Atlantic Mackerel Pinfish Gulf Menhaden White Shrimp
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Related Fishing Methods

Vertical jigging popular and growing trend of using a variety of metal jigs and high speed reels to quickly drop and retrieve the jig making it dance or flutter through the water column. It is deadly on a wide variety of fish. Both bottom fish and pelagics are fooled into biting these versatile jigs.