The herring are running again in San Francisco and it’s quite a show in the waters around Angel Island State Park. When you take the ferry to the island you can see flocks of gulls, pelicans and other seabirds diving into the water for fish that are literally jumping out of the water. Seals are also popping up everywhere enjoying this seasonal snack.

The migratory baitfish enter San Francisco Bay in winter to spawn. Most herring are just 5 to 8 inches long, yet the females lay about 30,000 eggs in a single spawn. The clusters of eggs cling to rocks, seaweed and docks. They hatch into small fish in about a month.