The American shad, commonly known as white shad in North Carolina, is a member of the Clupeidae, or herring family. General InformationĮvery year, in an event that heralds the coming of spring, large numbers of American shad make their way up several of North Carolina’s coastal rivers to their historic spawning grounds, where shad fishermen eagerly await their arrival. Shad spawning migrations can extend up to 500 miles inland in some of the larger coastal rivers. The range of American shad extends along the east coast of North America from Newfoundland southward to Florida, but they are most abundant from Connecticut to North Carolina. Young reach sexual maturity within 5 to 7 years. Hatch in about 8 to 12 days at water temperature of 11 degrees to 15 degrees. Juvenile shad remain in the river during summer and return downriver in the fall. Spawning occurs in mid-river at night and can occur as early as November or as late as July. Juveniles eat worms, crustaceans and insects. North Carolina Wildlife Resources Commission, 2007. Update and revision by Kevin Dockendorf, Fisheries Biologist
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