Shad can also be taken by fly fishing. Best fishing occurs in the lower East Branch and the main stem from Port Jervis to Hancock. Like American shad, alewife is an important commercial fish species on the Atlantic coast. Adults average ten to 14 inches in length and weigh less than a pound. Although they look similar to other small herring, their large eyes and deep body easily identify them.
Alewives have a short jaw that juts out when the mouth is closed.
Spawning occurs in early spring when large schools of alewives move into tidal waters from the ocean. These spawning runs begin slowly with only a few fish at a time migrating in. As more fish arrive, they remain along the shore in the main rivers. Spawning fish can often be seen swirling about in small groups. Young alewives are often hard to find, as they hide in weedy beds and deep water during the day.