Fish

Hickory shad

Sábalo hickory

Alosa mediocris

SaltwaterBrackishFreshwater

At a glance

Typical size

1–2 lb.

Depth

3–15 ft.

Best time

Daytime.

Found in

5 areas

Spot it, size it up and learn its habits.

Identification: Smaller, slimmer shad with a lower jaw that sticks out past the upper jaw, a gray-green back, silver sides and a row of dark spots behind the gill cover.
Typical size: 1–2 lb.
Maximum size: About 2 ft and around 3 lb.
Diet: Small fish, squid and crustaceans.
Behavior: Runs up rivers in early spring, a few weeks before the American shad; jumps a lot.

Where, when and how deep to look.

Where to find it: Found from Virginia & Chesapeake Bay, North Carolina, Georgia & South Carolina, Delaware & New Jersey and Florida Atlantic Coast. Coastal rivers from Maine to Florida, most common from Chesapeake Bay to the Carolinas (Rappahannock, Roanoke, Neuse and Tar rivers).
Habitat: Coastal rivers from Maine to Florida, most common from Chesapeake Bay to the Carolinas (Rappahannock, Roanoke, Neuse and Tar rivers).
Depth: 3–15 ft.
Fishing depth: 3–10 ft in current.
Best season: March–April.
Best time: Daytime.
Best tides: Tidal rivers fish best on a moving tide.
Best weather / conditions: Stable flows.

What to tie on and what to throw.

The rod, reel, line and lures BigJoe would use.

Also at Bass Pro Shops: Rod Line Darts Spoons Waders Pliers

As an Amazon Associate, BigJoe earns from qualifying purchases. It costs you nothing extra and helps keep this guide free.

Step by step, from first cast to landing.

Go where it lives: Coastal rivers from Maine to Florida, most common from Chesapeake Bay to the Carolinas (Rappahannock, Roanoke, Neuse and Tar rivers).
Rig up: Ultralight to light spinning rod or 5 weight fly rod. 6 lb.
Pick your bait: None — small lures. Lures: Shad darts, small spoons and bright flies.
Fish it: Cast darts across the current and swing them below the fall line rapids.
Time it: Daytime. Tidal rivers fish best on a moving tide.

Fishing techniques: Cast darts across the current and swing them below the fall line rapids.
BigJoe's tip: Hickories hit hard and jump like little tarpon on ultralight gear.
Catch and release: 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.

Is it good to eat, and how to prepare it.

Edibility: Edible but not prized — strong or bony; many anglers release it.
Cleaning: Bleed and ice it right away. Fillet, then remove the skin and any dark bloodline.
Cooking suggestions: Bony; the roe is the prize. Many anglers release them.

Safety, rules and taking care of the fishery.

Safety warnings: Slippery rocks and spring floods.
Regulations: Some states allow limited harvest and others are catch-and-release; 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.
Conservation: Runs have improved in some rivers.

Tap an area to open its fishing map.

Sources & photo credits