Ditto chuck n duck,
good quality Sardenes are not hard to find if you know where to look. The freezers in the Astoria area are full of them, Try:

Sturgeon Pauls whole and fillets available. I have seen these and they are #1 quality.
Free Willie's
The Sea Hag in Hammond
sorry, I don't have numbers but should not be too hard to find.

IF you must have an altertinative, hearing is OK, shrimp butter is also OK.
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You can always tell a fisherman, you just can't tell him much.