American Shad
American Shad are native anadromous fish found in at least 19 South Carolina river systems. They're the largest member of the herring family in the United States.
These fish spend most of their adult lives in the Atlantic Ocean, migrating between summer feeding areas in the Gulf of Maine and southern mid-Atlantic wintering areas.
Scientific Name: Alosa sapidissima
- Averaging 24 inches and 4 pounds, with the South Carolina state record at 7 pounds.
- These silvery fish have blue-green coloration on top with a distinctive dark spot behind the gill cover followed by smaller spots along the upper body.
Fishing in South Carolina
Lake Marion
Wateree River
Broad River
Saluda River
Lake Murray
Black River
Catawba River
Lynches River
Lake Moultrie
Santee River
What to know
Habitat Distribution
- Found in at least 19 South Carolina river systems.
- South Carolina's Santee-Cooper system hosts one of the largest American Shad populations on the Atlantic coast.
Key Locations
- Waccamaw, Great Pee Dee, Little Pee Dee, Lynches, Black, Sampit, Bull Creek, Santee, Cooper, Wateree, Congaree, Broad, Wando, Ashley, Ashepoo, Combahee, Edisto, Coosawhatchie, and Savannah Rivers.
- Recreational fishing opportunities on the Cooper, Savannah, Edisto, and Combahee Rivers, as well as the Santee River Rediversion Canal.
- Berkeley County's Tail Race Canal below the Pinopolis Lock and Dam is extremely popular.
Specific Spots
- Target deep pools, slow-moving currents, tributary mouths, and areas just downstream of dams or obstructions.
American Shad FAQ
Answers from onWater's species guide.
What are the best lures and bait for American Shad in South Carolina?
Small lead head jigs (1/32 ounce Strike King Mr. Crappie jig heads) with 1.5-2 inch curly tail grubs in chartreuse, hot pink, or white. Traditional shad darts in chartreuse work well, with flat-headed darts providing better action than rounded heads.
What flies work for American Shad in South Carolina?
Bright-colored Clouser Minnows, small jigs, or soft-bodied streamers in pink, orange, and chartreuse.
When is the best time to fish for American Shad in South Carolina?
Most productive from mid-January through mid-May. Peak spawning activity occurs at 65.3°F water temperatures between sundown and midnight.
How do you catch American Shad in South Carolina?
Cast quartering upstream and retrieve at current speed, adding light jigging motions every few seconds. The bite is typically a solid thump requiring immediate hook sets due to their soft mouths. Multiple jigs can be effective when fish are active, as it's common to catch multiple shad simultaneously.
What do American Shad eat?
They primarily feed on plankton using specialized gill rakers in a process called ram suspension-feeding, consuming copepods, mysids, and occasionally small fish. During spawning migration, they reduce or cease feeding entirely upon entering freshwater.
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