Species › North America · Freshwater › American Shad

Freshwater

American Shad

Alosa sapidissima · White shad, Atlantic shad, Poor man's tarpon

Water temp
57–68°F
Peak season
Apr–May
Best light
Daytime
IGFA record
11 lb 4 oz (5.10 kg)
American Shad (Alosa sapidissima (S0315) (12599984823).jpg)

Photo: Smithsonian Environmental Research Center · CC BY 2.0 · via Wikimedia Commons

OverviewWhere & WhenHow to CatchGearRegulationsRecordsForecastCatches

Overview

American shad are deep-bodied, silver herring with a bluish-green back, a row of dark spots behind the gill plate and a sharp, sawtooth belly. Most run 15 to 24 inches. They are native to the Atlantic coast from Newfoundland to northern Florida and were introduced to the Pacific in the 1870s, where the Columbia and Sacramento rivers now host some of the biggest runs anywhere. Shad spend three to five years at sea before returning to their home river to spawn once water temperatures climb into the mid-50s °F (12–14 °C).

Shad feed on plankton at sea and eat almost nothing on their spawning run, but they strike small, bright lures out of aggression, which is what makes them catchable. They stack in current seams, below dams and along gravel bars, and a fresh fish hits hard, jumps repeatedly and runs downstream with the current. Runs on rivers like the Delaware and Connecticut have rebounded as dams come down and fish passage improves, so a few weeks each spring deliver fast action within reach of major East Coast cities.

Typical size2–5 lb (1–2.3 kg); 16–22 in
Trophy6 lb+ on most rivers; 8 lb+ is exceptional
Table fareFair — bony, but the roe is prized and smoked shad is excellent

Where & when

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Runs start in Florida and Georgia in January, peak in the mid-Atlantic in April and in New England and the Pacific Northwest in May–June; fish push upriver once water hits about 55 °F (13 °C).

Delaware River, NJLongest undammed East Coast river; Lambertville to the Water Gap in April–MayConnecticut River, CTHolyoke Dam tailwater and Enfield rapids; May peakColumbia River, WAMillions of fish below Bonneville Dam in May–JuneSusquehanna River, MDConowingo Dam tailrace and Deer Creek in April

How to catch

Shad dart driftCast a 1/16–1/4 oz shad dart quartering upstream, let it sink and swing through the current seam, then retrieve slowly with a few twitches. Adjust weight until the dart ticks bottom occasionally. Chartreuse, pink and red-and-white are standards.
Flutter spoon or shad spoonSmall willow spoons in silver, gold or chartreuse fished on a slow swing excel in heavier current and below dams. Add a split shot 18 inches up the line to hold depth. Shad usually hit at the end of the swing as the lure rises.
Fly fishingA 6–7 wt rod with a sinking-tip line and a small, flashy fly such as a bead-chain shad fly or Crazy Charlie swung down and across covers the water. Count the fly down, mend to keep it deep, and expect the grab as the line straightens.
Anchored boat trollingOn big rivers like the Columbia, anchor above a known lane and let darts or spoons hang in the current on a short line, or slow-troll downstream. Keep lures a foot or two off bottom and vary color until fish commit.

Gear

Rod6'6"–7'6" light to medium-light spinning or 6–7 wt fly rod
Reel2000–2500 spinning or 6–7 wt fly reel
Line6–8 lb monofilament or 10 lb braid with a 6 lb fluorocarbon leader

Lures

Shad dartsFlutter spoonsSmall inline spinnersTiny jigsBead-chain shad flies

Regulations

A freshwater or combined fishing license is required. Several Atlantic states prohibit harvest or impose tight daily limits, and in-river seasons vary, so check the river-specific rules before keeping any shad.

Records

IGFA all-tackle world record: 11 lb 4 oz (5.10 kg) — Connecticut River, South Hadley, Massachusetts, 1986 (Bob Thibodo). State and regional records are kept by each fish & wildlife agency.

Frequently asked

Why do shad hit lures if they don't feed in the river?

Spawning shad still react to small, bright objects drifting past them, probably a mix of aggression and a feeding reflex left over from life at sea. That is why tiny darts and spoons in loud colors work while natural baits rarely do. Fish the lure slow and near the bottom so it passes right in front of them.

What is the best time of day to catch American shad?

Early morning and the last two hours before dark are consistently best, especially on bright days when shad hold deep and sulk at midday. Overcast, rising-water days can fish well all day. On tidal rivers, the two hours either side of low tide concentrate fish in the channels.

Bite forecast — American Shad

Recent catches

Posted by anglers on the live map, filtered to American Shad.

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