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American Shad

American Shad

American Shad are large anadromous members of the herring family that spend most of their lives in the Atlantic Ocean but return to Maine's freshwater rivers to spawn.

Historically abundant in Maine rivers with annual landings exceeding 2 million adults before dam construction in the 1830s, American Shad populations are currently depleted coastwide but are slowly recovering thanks to dam removals and improved fish passage.

Scientific Name: Alosa sapidissima

Physical Characteristics:
  • These silvery fish can grow longer than two feet and weigh more than a watermelon, with distinctive diamond-shaped scales and a dark spot behind their gills.

What to know

Habitat Distribution

  • In Maine, they're found in 23 identified river systems totaling over 2,545 river kilometers of potential habitat, though only 1,611 kilometers are currently accessible.

Key Locations

  • American Shad are documented as regular catches in the Sheepscot, Mousam, Presumpscot, Saco, and Kennebec rivers, plus Scarborough Marsh.
  • The major shad rivers include the Penobscot (786.3 km total habitat), Kennebec (407.6 km), Sheepscot (178.8 km), Saco (99.7 km), and Androscoggin (100.5 km).
  • Prime spawning areas including the Kennebec below Lockwood Dam and Sebasticook at Benton Falls.

Specific Spots

  • Target deep, slow pools where shad hold during midday heat, long uniform flats with moderate current, mouths of tributary streams, current seams, and areas just downstream of falls, rapids, or dam structures where they congregate.

American Shad FAQ

Answers from onWater's species guide.

What are the best lures and bait for American Shad in Maine?

Productive lures include shad darts (classic red/white, chartreuse, hot pink, fluorescent orange, green, and blue), small flutter spoons, and 1/32-ounce Strike King Mr. Crappie jig heads with 1.5-2 inch curly tail grubs.

What flies work for American Shad in Maine?

Effective flies include flashy-tailed clouser minnows, soft-bodied streamers, shad darts, and 1/64 ounce micro jigs with bright colors like pink, orange, chartreuse over white.

How do you catch American Shad in Maine?

Fish just heavy enough to reach bottom, casting slightly down and across current, allowing lures to drift near bottom while imparting jigging motion every 3-5 seconds by lifting rod tip 12 inches. Cover every inch of water systematically since shad travel in long, narrow single-file schools.

What do American Shad eat?

As filter feeders, they primarily consume plankton, copepods, and mysid shrimp in saltwater, but typically don't actively feed during their freshwater spawning migrations.

Where do American Shad live in Maine?

In Maine, they're found in 23 identified river systems totaling over 2,545 river kilometers of potential habitat, though only 1,611 kilometers are currently accessible.

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