The Hudson River Maritime Museum hosts the annual Kingston Shad Festival to celebrate the return of the shad to the Hudson River. During spawning, shad arrive in large schools, running up the rivers where they slowly adjust to the change from salt to fresh water. While a large number of American shad run up into the Delaware River, the biggest run on the east coast is in the Hudson River Estuary. New York's American shad are highly prized by fisherman. Hudson River adults average 20 to 23 inches in length and five to six pounds in weight.
Shad fishing is an age-old tradition on the Hudson.
Shad have been known to travel up to 120 miles upriver to lay their eggs. Shad are a highly-prized fish, both for their flesh and their roe. Shad is a seasonal delicacy, available only a few weeks during the spring and valued for its flesh and roe. If you don't like fish Sea Scout Ship 609 selling hamburgers for people who don't like fish at the shad festival US Coast Guard Cutter Wire open for tours at the shad festival Special thanks to ulster.net for providing web services.