How shad and other species affect Pacific Northwest salmon

In recent years, non-native American shad migrating past Bonneville Dam greatly outnumbered the total salmon and steelhead. Smithsonian Environmental Research Center / Flickr Creative Commons Shad is a species of non-native fish that has become increasingly common along the West. How can this fish affect resources for salmon? What other non-native fish and invasive species … Read more

Threadfin Shad

Clupeidae (herrings) in the order Clupeiformes (herrings and anchovies) Herrings, as a group, are silvery, flat-sided fish, easily recognized by the row of sharp-edged, spiny scales (or scutes) along the midline of the belly. These scutes are readily apparent when you rub your fingers forward along the fish’s belly. The threadfin shad is similar to … Read more

How to Fish for Shad: American & Hickory Shad Fishing during the Spawn

Every spring American and Hickory shad make their way from the Atlantic into freshwater rivers and streams to deliver their yearly spawn. Some invasive populations even make this migration from the Pacific to some rivers on the west coast, like the Columbia river. At this time, thousands upon thousands of shad become accessible to all … Read more

Gizzard Shad (Dorosoma cepedianum)

Gizzard Shad (Dorosoma cepedianum) Other Names Shad, Hickory Shad, Herring, Skipjack Description Dorosoma is Greek for “lance body”, referring to the lance-like shape of young shad. The species epithet cepedianum refers to the French naturalist Citoyen Lacepede. Gizzard shad are usually easily distinguished from threadfin shad by the fact that the upper jaw projects well … Read more

American shad

American shad American shad Watercolor of an American shad by Sherman F. Denton, 1904: The swelling between the anal fin and ventral fin identifies this as a gravid female. Scientific classification Kingdom: Animalia Phylum: Chordata Class: Actinopterygii Order: Clupeiformes Family: Clupeidae Genus: Alosa Species: A. sapidissima Binomial name Alosa sapidissima (A. Wilson, 1811) Synonyms Clupea … Read more

Shad, American

Shad, American Published on January 23, 2014 American shad, the largest member of the herring family, is widely considered the tastiest of the world’s 31 shad species; the species name (sapidissima) means “most delicious.” Shad is a seasonal novelty on restaurant menus, and shad bakes are a rite of spring in many Mid-Atlantic communities. John … Read more