American shad are very high in “Omega-3” fatty acids. Alewife Alosa pseudoharengus. The lower jaw of the American Shad does not protrude beyond the upper jaw when fully closed. Identification of the various Clupeiform fishes becomes vitally important during their spawning runs, as different rules apply to different species, in different waterbodies. Shad Fishing On the Potomac River In Washington, DC, April 27, 2016 | Kosar's Fishing Blog. Tightlines Freshwater Fishing Charts also can be found in the New (I.G.F.A.) This family is represented by four species in Kentucky, one of which, the Northern Pike, … Herring and Shad Identification Tips (average length - 3 to 6 inches) (average length - 10 to 14 inches) American shad Alosa sapidissima. Commonly to 40 cm SL (15.7 Inches Standard Length). Herring and Shad Identification Tips N.C. Wildlife Resources Commission Inland Fisheries Division www.ncwildlife.org Blueback herring, alewife, hickory and American shad are members of the herring family (Clupeidae). Commonly reaching sizes of 50 cm SL (19.6 inches, Standard Length). It is during this time that anglers will commonly encounter them, and with any luck, catch them. International Game Fish Association Museum and Library in Dania Beach, Florida. Here, in the photo above, you can see the lower jaw of the American Shad does not protrude beyond the upper jaw when the mouth is fully closed. The American gizzard shad (Dorosoma cepedianum), also known as the mud shad, is a member of the herring family of fish, and is native to large swaths of fresh and brackish waters of the United States of America. The American Shad has 59-73 gill rakers on the lower limb of the first gill arch. Starting in about February, and running through May, the sexually mature (and normally marine) Hickory Shad, American Shad, Blueback Herring, and Alewife Herring will enter area rivers and swim up them to reach their spawning grounds. Like all shad in this article, they have a silvery, metallic sheen, with blues and greens on top, fading to white below. %��Z�>�P�6M���UFA�Pr"�[#�fk�Ec_*4�|xlĕ�6��G���"u��Ƙ�k`��ڭ�6s�m����|�Q|QJn�w�/�����Q& �v��qs| ,"�,j=�ئ>���ïFc$�ՠ4B6�D����C!�B�'�m͌���H�XW��g\�J�-hGȫW��>i�a�x��:e��4/73��*�5��)wL5(��&��2�p��!�� �7'���4Z��͢jK�G�G���Em X���\SD����� \����!�M�ł�%��� _Yd6�P����Vd�H�u+_:ܪ3#M��|.x�*.�Ow�~����wt[�fPP�`4}5ɪ Although members of this family can be found year round, we wanted to specifically mention them today due to the annual spring spawning runs that a few of these species make. At the time of writing, in North Carolina, on the Neuse River, you can keep 10 shad (American or Hickory) in combination, including no more than 1 American shad. The lower jaw of the Hickory Shad protrudes beyond the upper jaw when fully closed. Hickory shad … The adult has a deep body, with a silvery-green coloration above fading to plain silver below. Eyes have “eyelids” composed of fat-storing adipose tissue. Identification: Gizzard Shad Dorosoma cepedianum is characterized by the blunt snout, small toothless mouth, a long trailing last dorsal ray, and closely packed gill rakers which can be present in numbers beyond 400. For more information, see: http://www.ncwildlife.org/Portals/0/Regs/Documents/2014-15/Fishing_Regulations.pdf. If you wish to learn about the other river herrings, please see this pamphlet by the NCWRC: http://216.27.39.103/Portals/0/Fishing/documents/Herring_Shad_ID_guide_sm.pdf. The mouth is in fact open just a bit in this photograph. 8� �� They also have a row of scales on their bellies, known as ventral scutes. 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