World Record - 21.50 pounds, caught in Forest Lake, South Carolina in 1980. State Record - 19 pounds, caught in Lake Kissimmee in 1984. St. Lawrence River, Canada to St. Johns River, Flonda. In Florida, it occurs only in the northeast, mostly in the St. Johns River and Nassau River. Eggs are spawned directly into the river where they drift freely for 2-3 days.
Juveniles leave the river when it cools in late fall or early winter.
Juveniles mature into adults in the Atlantic Ocean and do not return to the St. Johns River until they are ready to spawn, two to five years later. In the St. Johns River and all other rivers below Cape Fear, North Carolina, shad die after they spawn. Size up to 30 inches. In recent times, fly fishing has become very extensive. Recreational fishing began in the early 1940s near Deland.