Description
Herring Pond is a 46-acre kettle hole and Great Pond with an average depth of 18 feet and a maximum depth of 35 feet. It is drained by the Herring River but saltwater can sometimes wash into the pond from the river at the highest tides. Transparency is very good, extending to 18 feet, and the bottom is composed primarily of sand. The 1.1 miles of shoreline are moderately developed with houses.
Recreational access
The town of Eastham manages a town beach and fisherman's landing next to the outlet for Herring River on Herring Brook Road (get directions). The launch is suitable for cartop boats and there is a three horsepower limit on engines. All motorized watercraft need to have an annual inspection sticker from the Eastham Natural Resources Department. Please contact the town of Eastham for additional information, fee structures, and/or additional restrictions pertaining to public access of Herring Pond.
Fish populations
The following fish species were found during MassWildlife surveys:
- largemouth bass
- chain pickerel
- yellow perch
- white perch
- brown bullhead
- pumpkinseed
- American eel
- alewife
- golden shiner
- banded killifish
Herring Pond is stocked each spring and fall with trout.
Fishing
Herring Pond is is a popular trout fishing destination and has a reputation for producing large holdover brown trout. This can be attributed to the excellent forage base in the form of sea-run alewives which swim up the Herring River from Cape Cod bay to spawn in the pond. During mid summer, look for the trout in a narrow depth range around 23 feet. Herring Pond Pond has produced largemouth bass, smallmouth bass, chain pickerel, white perch, bullhead, brook trout, brown trout, and tiger trout that meet the minimum sizes for recognition by the Freshwater Sportfishing Awards Program.
More fishing resources:
Stop aquatic hitchhikers
Prevent the transport of nuisance species; clean all recreational equipment. Visit ProtectYourWaters.net to learn more.