The American shad, the largest of the herrings, is the most abundant anadromous fish on the east coast of the United States. These sleek, silver, schooling fish are unique inhabitants of our local rivers. Large populations support growing commercial and sport fisheries. American shad have even been successfully introduced to the west coast where they are also fished by commercial and recreational fishermen. Anglers can finds themselves in the midst of vast rafts of these silver fish providing an experience unequalled in freshwater fishing.
American shad enter rivers in the early spring and can travel hundreds of miles upstream to spawn.
This energetically taxing migration allows juveniles to hatch and be reared in an advantageous freshwater environment since larval development cannot occur in salt water. American shad spawn in open waters and do not often move up into the tributaries of the large rivers that they ascend. During the evening, spring boaters can find themselves surrounded by schools of splashing, spawning shad. A large female is usually chased by a group of several eager males. The female releases her eggs into the water column and they are then fertilized by her accompanying males.