Shad are the game fish you never knew you were missing. As members of the Herring family, it’s easy to think of them as little more than bait fish, but that’s where you’d be wrong! Whether you’re Shad fishing on light tackle or on the fly, these silver bullets promise plenty of excitement.
Known to leap out of the water and even flip themselves end over end, their acrobatics have earned them the nickname “freshwater Tarpon.” That’s high praise for a fish that averages 5 pounds!
But what does it take to land a Shad? What makes them leap out of the water? And is there anything else that makes them a brag-worthy catch? We’ll answer all these questions, as we dive into the world of Shad fishing.
How to Identify Shad
There are two noteworthy species of Shad in North America that keep anglers looking forward to the spring run each year. The first of these is American Shad (Alosa sapidissima), also known as White Shad, Atlantic Shad, and Connecticut River Shad. Their Latin name translates to “most savory” in reference to their full-flavored meat.
Native to the Atlantic Ocean, these fish fed indigenous populations on the East Coast for centuries, as well as early colonists. That explains how they got their other nickname, “the Found Fish.” The stock has dwindled since then and American Shad are now relatively rare compared to other local Shad species. Thankfully, they were introduced to the West Coast during the late 1800s, where they still thrive and are coveted game fish in certain rivers.
Though Shad spend much of their time in the ocean, anglers mainly target them in brackish and freshwater rivers when they travel upstream to spawn. They’re much like Salmon this way, which is how they earned yet another nickname as “the poor man’s Salmon.” A Shad will travel 12,000 miles during their average 5-year lifespan!
As the largest member of the Herring family, American Shad typically weigh between 3 and 8 pounds. At first glance, they’re not much to look at. Shad look like… well, fish. But, look closely and you’ll notice their silver, diamond-shaped scales, which really do remind you of a Tarpon. You can also look for a dark spot or smudge behind their gills, which may be trailed by smaller, fainter spots.
Hickory shad
The second subspecies, Hickory Shad (Alosa mediocris), are also native to the Atlantic, from the Gulf of Maine down to northern Florida. And this is pretty much the only area where you can catch them. Nowadays they’re far more numerous than American Shad, making them the main target for Shad anglers on the East Coast.
These Shad don’t have much commercial value but their acrobatic fighting power has made them into a popular sportfishing target – especially in the mid-Atlantic states. Averaging just 1–2 pounds, they’re noticeably smaller than American Shad, but still bigger than Alewife and Blueback Herring (two related species that look almost identical).
Aside from their size, it can be hard to distinguish Hickory Shad from American Shad. But spotting the difference is critical, since regulations for these species aren’t the same and you have to know what to throw back into the river!
A quick look at their jaw is the best way to tell them apart. American Shad have “terminal” mouths where the upper and lower jaws come together evenly, whereas Hickories have longer lower jaws that produce an underbite when their mouths are closed.
Threadfin Shad, Gizzard Shad, and Alabama Shad are a few other species in North America, but these are of less sportfishing interest.
Best Shad Fishing Spots
Delaware River
One of the best-known places to fish for American Shad is the Delaware River which runs through New York, Pennsylvania, New Jersey, and Delaware. You can find these fish along roughly 300 miles of the river. Some hot spots include Hancock, NY, Trenton, NJ, Easton, PA, and the Centre Bridge-Stockton Bridge connecting New Jersey to Pennsylvania.
American Shad enter these waters in March and make their way upstream through June. Shad fishing regulations on the Delaware River are shared by all states the river runs through. Currently, anglers can keep two American Shad per day and six Shad in total.
Cape Fear & Tar Rivers
North Carolina also boasts a decent American Shad run each year, in addition to Hickory Shad. Some of the best waters to fish for them are the Cape Fear and the Tar Rivers. Locks and dams on the Cape Fear River tend to be especially productive, notably near Tarheel, Elizabethtown, and Riegelwood. Anglers fishing the Tar River should head toward Battle Park in Rocky Mount or Bell’s Bridge.
North Carolina’s regulations allow anglers to keep up to 10 Shad per day, one of which may be American Shad. Anglers can keep as many as five American Shad in the Cape Fear River and its tributaries.
St. Johns River
Florida’s St. Johns River offers a completely different setting, characterized by the swamps and savannas of the deep south. This is the southernmost river that American and Hickory Shad enter from offshore waters on the East Coast. Local temperatures draw them into the lower river as early as December and the spawning season lasts until May or June.
Shad fishing on the St. Johns was once so popular that anglers partook in an annual tournament for them, which drew thousands of boats to the river each February. Today, anglers can still enjoy good fly fishing for them, especially from Route 46 between Titusville and Sanford.
Florida has an aggregate bag limit of 10 fish per day for American, Hickory, and Alabama Shad.
Columbia River
Though they aren’t native to these waters, American Shad have earned the admiration of many anglers on the West Coast. The Columbia River which weaves its way through Oregon, Washington, and beyond is a top fishing spot for them. In fact, some consider Shad to be the river’s signature fish – ahead of Salmon and Steelhead – due to how many millions of them migrate upstream each year.
The Bonneville Dam between Washington and Oregon creates creates a backlog of Shad downstream, leading to the best Shad fishing conditions on the entire Columbia River. It’s hard to pick a bad fishing spot along the stretch running 25 miles below the dam, but consider heading upstream to avoid fishing pressure from other anglers.
American Shad spawn in the Columbia River between May and July. It’s legal to fish for them anytime the game fish or Salmon seasons are open. Note that fishing downstream of the Bonneville Dam is closed from April 1 to May 15 but, otherwise, there’s no size or possession limit for Shad caught in Washington and Oregon.
Sacramento River
Anglers in California need look no further than the Sacramento River, where it’s possible to catch as many as a hundred Shad in a day. They enter the lower river below Sacramento in April, and make their way upstream from there. By May, they’re moving through Chico and into Red Bluff, where the fishing really picks up in June and July. This is when and where you’re likely to catch the most fish! Spin fishing is ideal for the large rapids of the main river, while its tributaries are perfect for wading and fly fishing.
Shad season in California is open year-round, except in some areas with special closures. There’s a bag limit of 25 fish.
How to Fish for Shad
Most Shad fishing takes place in rivers, where these fish don’t actively feed. However, they still strike at objects out of aggression or curiosity, allowing anglers to catch them using lures instead of bait.
There are essentially two ways to fish for Shad. Opt either for light spinning tackle or fly gear. You can target them from shore or using a boat to access deeper parts of the river. Shad usually swim in the lower water column, between 5–20 feet deep, which will determine some aspects of the tackle you should use.
Spinning
A 6 or 7′ light-to-medium action spinning rod and matching reel are all you need for Shad. Use a mono or fluorocarbon line that’s somewhere between 4–12 lb test.
Terminal tackle should include hooks in size 1 or 1/0, along with brightly colored flutter spoons, shad darts, jigs, or minnow imitations. Pink, orange, and chartreuse are the most popular colors, but red and yellow can also work. Shad are known to fixate on one color before suddenly switching their preference to another, so try to have a variety at hand.
Lastly, you may want to use a weight or downrigger in order to place your lure in the lower water column where these fish will be swimming.
Look for Shad in deep pools where they often wait out the midday heat before continuing upstream. Slow-moving currents are also common holding spots for them, whether at the mouth of a tributary or along the flats. Shad tend to avoid heavy-falling water at the bottom of fish ladders or falls.
It usually helps to position yourself upstream of the target zone and cast across the current, allowing your lure to sink as the water carries it downstream. You can include some light jigging every few seconds to attract attention if things are slow.
Fly Fishing
When fly fishing for Shad, you can use a 5–7 wt rod. Since you’re likely to target them subsurface, you should use an intermediate weighted line.
To achieve the right depth, it’s common to fish a Y-shaped “Shad rig” which holds two lures spaced about a foot apart with a weight on a swiveled line between them. These lures can be small, bright jigs (usually ¼ oz “Shad darts”) or one jig toward the front and a spoon spinner toward the back.
Other popular flies for Shad fishing are flashy-tailed clouser minnows, soft-bodied streamers, darts, and 1/64 oz micro jigs which resemble tiny Bass jigs with short feathering. Whichever fly pattern you use, make sure it’s adequately weighted with hourglass or bead-chain eyes to sink to the depth you’re targeting.
Color selection varies depending on the river, but you’ll usually have luck with bright hues like pink, orange, chartreuse, or any of these over white.
Drift casting or slow trolling these flies works well. When casting, you should cast up-current and let your fly settle near the bottom before pulling it back with a slow, steady retrieve. You can include a few slow twitches, but be sure to let your line sink back to the bottom as you go.
When to Fish for Shad
American and Hickory Shad enter coastal rivers for several months each year in the spring. Depending on the local climate, this happens slightly earlier in some areas than others.
Mid-Atlantic states first see these fish in February but sportfishing for them usually kicks off in March. Down in Florida, Shad may show up as early as December. The Shad run lasts until around June, when they return to the Atlantic.
On the West Coast, American Shad enter coastal rivers between April and June, with fishing really picking up in July.
Wherever you happen to be Shad fishing, pay close attention to local regulations so you know when it’s legal to target them and how many fish you can keep.
Shad: The Founding Fish
Given their fighting power and historical significance, Shad are one of the most underrated sport fish. It doesn’t take fancy gear or much technique to catch them, but they present their own unique challenge.
Elusive yet aggressive, Shad will keep you waiting with bated breath until you manage to hook them and witness their acrobatic show. In a way, that’s what freshwater sportfishing is all about. We think light tackle and fly fishermen can both benefit from adding the humble Shad to their bucket list. You might even say these fish are fundamental!
Have you ever been Shad fishing? What are your favorite spots and techniques? We’d love to hear from you in the comments below!
