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Hickory Shad

Hickory Shad

Hickory Shad (Alosa mediocris) are a smaller relative of American Shad. These anadromous fish spend most of their lives in marine environments but enter freshwater to spawn.

They're known as excellent sportfish that strike flies and lures readily, possess hard-fighting qualities typical of migratory fish, and often leap out of the water when hooked, earning them the nickname 'poor man's tarpon.'

Scientific Name: Alosa mediocris

Also known as poor man's tarpon

Physical Characteristics:

Averaging 11-16 inches for males and around 17 inches for females, weighing 1-3 pounds.

Hickory Shad are distinguished from American Shad by their noticeably longer lower jaw that projects beyond the snout when the mouth is closed, creating an underbite appearance.

They have green-gray upper surfaces with iridescent silver sides, white bellies, and serrated belly scales with a distinctive dark humeral spot often followed by fainter spots.

What to know

Habitat Distribution

Historically, they occurred in several Pennsylvania streams and rivers before being eliminated by dams and pollution, but recent restoration stockings and improved water quality have brightened prospects for their return.

Key Locations

Susquehanna River Basin (including tributaries like Muddy Creek and Octoraro Creek), Delaware River Basin (including Ridley Creek, Pennypack Creek, and the Delaware River at Yardley), and the Schuylkill River. Focus on the Susquehanna River system, Delaware River, and tributaries like Ridley Creek and Pennypack Creek where restoration stockings have occurred.

Specific Spots

Target deep pools, slow-moving currents, tributary mouths, and areas around dams. Fish are typically found 5-20 feet deep.

Hickory Shad FAQ

Answers from onWater's species guide.

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

Brightly colored flutter spoons, shad darts, jigs, or minnow imitations in pink, orange, and chartreuse

What flies work for Hickory Shad in Pennsylvania?

Small woolly buggers in bright colors (size 8), hair wing bucktails like the Mickey Finn, small Clouser Minnows, O'Neill's Shad Crack, O'Neill's Hazardous Waste, and O'Neill's Dart patterns.

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

Spring spawning runs typically beginning in late February/early March and tapering off by mid-April

How do you catch Hickory Shad in Pennsylvania?

Key techniques include the wet fly swing - cast down and across river, mend upstream, let flies settle and hunt through deeper holding water, and don't forget the dangle at the end of the swing.

What do Hickory Shad eat?

Unlike American Shad which are primarily plankton feeders, Hickory Shad are piscivorous with a more diverse diet consisting primarily of small fish (97% by weight on spawning grounds), along with crustaceans and squid.

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