Skip to main content

Hickory Shad

Hickory Shad

Hickory Shad are smaller cousins of American Shad that range along the Atlantic Coast from Florida to the Gulf of Maine, with New Jersey waters supporting populations primarily during their spring spawning migration.

These anadromous fish spend most of their adult lives in the ocean, entering New Jersey's coastal rivers and tributaries to spawn. The species has minimal commercial value but provides excellent light-tackle sport fishing opportunities.

Scientific Name: Alosa mediocris

Physical Characteristics:
  • Adult Hickory Shad in New Jersey waters typically measure 13-18 inches and weigh 1-2 pounds, with a distinctive underbite where the lower jaw extends beyond the upper jaw.
  • They're silver-colored with dark backs and may have a dark humeral spot behind the gills.

What to know

Habitat Distribution

  • Range along the Atlantic Coast from Florida to the Gulf of Maine.

Key Locations

  • New Jersey's coastal rivers and tributaries, coastal waters, open beaches and back bays, jetties, inlet mouths, and back bay areas.

Specific Spots

  • Target areas include the mouths of tributary streams, current seams, soft current edges, and deeper pools.
  • Prefer gravel, sand, and cobble bottoms, and are typically found in deeper water between 5-20 feet during the day.
  • During fall runs, they're often found mixed with striped bass in the surf zone.

Hickory Shad FAQ

Answers from onWater's species guide.

What are the best lures and bait for Hickory Shad in New Jersey?

Small, bright lures work best - try diamond jigs, Kastmasters, Ava 007 diamond jigs with red tubes, small bucktail teasers, and resin or epoxy jigs that mimic sand eels, bay anchovies, or silversides.

What flies work for Hickory Shad in New Jersey?

Small saltwater baitfish patterns, Clouser minnows, and shrimp patterns in bright colors.

When is the best time to fish for Hickory Shad in New Jersey?

Best during late spring (April-May) when water temperatures reach 55-60°F during their spawning run, and again in fall (late summer through November) when they return to coastal waters. Spawning occurs from late March through May when water temperatures reach the low to mid-50s°F.

How do you catch Hickory Shad in New Jersey?

Cast uptide and let lures sink before retrieving, or use the swing method casting across current.

What do Hickory Shad eat?

Despite being in freshwater during spawning season, Hickory Shad are piscivorous, feeding primarily on small fish including spearing, bay anchovies, sand eels, grass shrimp, and small bunker.

Fish smarter with real-time insights

Whether you're en route and conditions shift or you're looking for the best spot based on current flows, we enable you to make informed decisions on the fly.

See it in the app

Most maps show you water.
onWater shows you Hickory Shad.

  1. 01 · Species map filter

    Map every Hickory Shad water

    Pick Hickory Shad and the map zeroes in on the waters they call home. No more guessing which lake holds them.

  2. 02 · Waterbody species

    Tap any water. See what lives there.

    Species, behavior and seasonal patterns for every lake, river and pond, before you leave the driveway.

  3. 03 · Angler Intelligence

    Ask how to catch Hickory Shad

    Tactics, gear and timing from onWater's AI fishing guide, tuned to the species and the water you're on.

Stop guessing where Hickory Shad are.

Open the map, filter by Hickory Shad, and head to water that holds them. Download onWater and plan your next trip in minutes.

  • Species map filter
  • Angler Intelligence
  • Fishing journal
Try onWater+ for free

Explore other species

Trout, bass, salmon, panfish and everything in between. Each guide unpacks the behavior, seasons, and tactics that put fish in the net.

No species information available.

New Jersey licenses and regulations

Explore nearby waters

Smarter Fishing Starts in the App.

onWater Fish gives you everything you need to plan smarter, fish better, and own every trip from first cast to last.