American shad

The biggest herring in North America: deep, flat, silver body with a bluish-green back, a row of dark spots behind the gill cover, a sharp saw-edged belly and a deeply forked tail.

3–5 lb.

About 30 in and over 11 lb.

Plankton at sea; it doesn't really feed in rivers, but strikes small, bright lures by instinct.

Lives at sea and runs up coastal rivers to spawn in spring, starting in the south (Florida's St. Johns in winter) and moving north. Jumps and runs hard — the 'poor man's tarpon'.

Found from Virginia & Chesapeake Bay, North Carolina, Georgia & South Carolina, Florida Atlantic Coast, Delaware & New Jersey, New York, Long Island & Connecticut, Rhode Island & Massachusetts, New Hampshire & Maine, Nova Scotia, New Brunswick & PEI, Northeast Lakes & Rivers, Pacific Northwest Rivers & Lakes, Oregon & Washington and Central & Northern California. Atlantic rivers from Florida to Canada (the St. Johns, Roanoke, Delaware, Connecticut and others); introduced to the Pacific coast, with big runs in the Columbia and Sacramento rivers.

Atlantic rivers from Florida to Canada (the St. Johns, Roanoke, Delaware, Connecticut and others); introduced to the Pacific coast, with big runs in the Columbia and Sacramento rivers.

3–20 ft.

3–12 ft in current.

January–March in Florida; April–June in the Mid-Atlantic, New England and the Columbia River.

Morning and evening.

No tide — in rivers, falling water after the rainy season is best.

Stable river flows; water temperature in the 50s–60s °F.

None — use small lures.

Shad darts, small spoons, flutter spoons and bright flies.

Light to medium spinning rod or 5–7 weight fly rod.

Small size 4–2 hooks on darts.

6–10 lb.

6–8 lb.

Cast shad darts or small spoons across and slightly downstream and let them swing in the current below dams and rapids.

Two darts in tandem at different depths will show you where the fish are holding.

Catch and release: wet your hands, keep the fish in the water when you can, and release it quickly. Use circle hooks and a dehooker.

Good eating when fresh.

Bleed and ice it right away. Fillet, then remove the skin and any dark bloodline.

Very bony but delicious, especially the roe (shad roe is a spring treat); planked shad is a tradition.

Slippery rocks and strong currents below dams.

Many Atlantic states have closed or catch-and-release shad fishing, or very low limits; rules differ by river. Check local rules. Licenses, limits and seasons are set by each province, territory or state, and many lakes and rivers have special size limits, slot limits or closed spawning seasons — check the current regulations for the water you fish.

Dams and overfishing cut Atlantic runs to a fraction of their old size.