When the stars are right, and the constellation Pisces is aligned with the sun, the herring and shad are stimulated by lengthening days. Perhaps sensing the faint aroma of spring runoff that reminds them of the streams of their birth, they return. Surging upstream, they gather in great communal orgies of splashing and spawning. Shad and their herring cousins can be found in almost all major coastal streams. With the state imposing a generous 10-fish limit, a couple of anglers can easily provide enough fish for a major cookout.
Shad are bony.
There are numerous ways of deboning them, and various governmental agencis often hold classes. Another delicious bone-dissolving technique is pickling. Salt filleted shad heavily till the salt completely impregnates the flesh. Store the salted fish in a freezer for future use. As convenient, wash the salt from a half-dozen or so fillets.