hickory-shad
Species Facts

Science Name: Alosa mediocris
Other Names: Tailor shad, hick. Males are called buck shad, females roe shad
Description

Description Silvery sides with large, loose scales; large, black spot behind the gill cover followed by several vague spots. The lower jaw unlike that of American shad, projects well beyond the upper.

Table Quality The eggs are delicious, but the meat is not as good as that of American shad.

Sporting Qualities Although smaller than American shad, hickory shad are even more acrobatic fighters. They are generally caught on light spinning tackle with flies; small spoons; and small, flat- headed jigs called shad darts.

Habitat Hickory shad are found in fresh water only during the spawning period and for a short time afterward. They swim up coastal rivers in early spring, then spread out in connecting backwaters and tributaries. By midsummer, most have returned to the sea or died. Hickory shad are seldom found at water temperatures less than the low 4Os.

Food Habits The diet consists of small fish, fish eggs, crabs, aquatic insects and squid.

Spawning Habits Hickory shad begin running about two weeks earlier than American shad, usually entering rivers when the water temperature reaches 50 to 52F. Males move in first, but as spawning time draws near, the percentage of females increases. Hickory shad prefer to spawn in small tributaries instead of the main river. Spawning activity usually peaks at water temperatures in the low 60s. The eggs are deposited at random, then abandoned.

Age and Growth Hickory shad grow more slowly than American shad. The maximum age is about 10 years, but few live beyond age 6.