American Shad,  Alosa sapidissima

 
Physical Description: 
Large eye 
Jaw slopes upward  
Elongate and compressed body
Large, superior mouth
Teeth on lower jaw in young  
Small dorsal fin 
Tail fin forked with symmetrical lobes  
Anal fin longer than dorsal fin
Small pelvic fins 
Green or blue on top, with silver sides  
Blue-black spot near edge of gill openings, with one are two smaller spots after it
Adults do not have jaw teeth

Similar species: 
Alabama shad (A. alabamae)

Mean body size:
Adults are 350-550 mm total length

Habitat:
Schooling fish found in open waters of the ocean and large rivers  
Migrate with temperature  
Found in the Chesapeake Bay from January to May
 
 
Distribution in VA:
All major and minor Chesapeake Bay tributaries and the Nottoway River 
Stocked in the New and Roanoke Rivers  

Food Habits:  
Young feed on small crustaceans and aquatic insects in fresh water  
In salt water, they feed on shrimp  
Adults mainly eat plankton  
Diet includes algae, zooplankton, mayflies, mollusks, fish eggs, and fish  
  

Reproductive Habits: 
Mature between ages 3 and 6  
Males mature earlier than females  
Spawn in tidal fresh water from March to May after migration upriver in shallow flats and riffles  
Eggs released over a wide variety of substrates 
Most spawning occurs at night  
Usually spawn more than once
Fecundity is 116,000-659,000 eggs per female  
Eggs float downstream until they settle in the substrate

Population Status, Economic, or Ecological Importance: 
Declined in numbers due to overfishing, dams, and pollution  
Historically an important fishery in the Chesapeake Bay region  
Supports a large recreational fishery for the shads 
 
Very good to eat, bony but tasty
 

References:       

Jenkins, R.E and N.M. Burkhead. 1993. Freshwater Fishes of Virginia. American Fisheries Society, Bethesda, Maryland. 

Page, L.M. and B.M. Burr. 1991. Freshwater Fishes. Peterson Field Guides, Boston. 432 pages.

Alewife American Shad Blueback Gizzard Shad Continue Browsing Families..... Petromyzontidae, Lampreys Polyodontidae, Paddlefish Acipenseridae, Sturgeons Lepisosteidae, Gars Amiidae, Bowfins Anguillidae, Freshwater Eels Amblyopsidae, Cavefishes Ictaluridae, Catfish Percopsidae, Trout-Perches Salmonidae, Trouts Clupeidae, Herrings Esocidae, Pikes Aphredoderidae, Pirate Perches Umbridae, Mudminnows Fundulidae, Killifishes Poeciliidae, Livebearers Cyprinidae, Minnows Catostomidae, Suckers Gasterosteidae, Sticklebacks Atherinidae, Silversides Cottidae, Sculpins Sciaenidae, Drums Percidae, Perches Moronidae, Striped Basses Centrarchidae, Sunfishes