American shad are a fun game fish found within 30-45 feet of the shoreline along both the East and
West coasts near rocks, wing jetties or other cover. The best fishing method for catching American shad
is bait casting using shad darts and brightly colored crappie jig heads. American shad will also respond
to small spoons, spinners and similar lures.
Habitat: Bay, Ocean, River
How to identify American Shad
American shad are a fun game fish found within 30-45 feet of the shoreline along both the East and
West coasts near rocks, wing jetties or other cover. The best fishing method for catching American shad
is bait casting using shad darts and brightly colored crappie jig heads. American shad will also respond
to small spoons, spinners and similar lures.
Where to catch American Shad
American shad can be found east of the Appalachians along the Atlantic coasts from Newfoundland
(Sand Hill River, Labrador) to Florida (St. John’s River) and Lake Huron/Erie to the St. Lawrence
River. These fish were introduced into California’s Sacramento River. They are also present in the
Pacific coasts from Mexico (Bahia de Todos, northern Baja California) up to Alaska and the Asiatic
side of the Kamchatka Peninsula. Like salmons, they migrate up rivers along the coast for spawning.
The following are habitats where you can catch American Shad:
- Backwater Fishing
- Current Edges
- Dams and Falls
- Drop-offs
- Outside of Bends
- Ripples, Currents, Swirls and Sprays
- Rock and Boulder Pockets
- Schools
- Undercut Banks
How to catch American Shad
American shad often stick within 30-45 feet of the shore. They can be caught from a boat or from the
shore. Good places to look for them include in wing jetties, below rocks and in other areas where they
can escape the current. In larger bodies of water, they can be found in areas that range from 5 and 20
feet deep; however, in smaller waters, they swim much closer to the surface. When they are spawning,
they don’t feed. During this time, the best method is to try to annoy them and get them to strike the
hook.
The following are effective fishing methods and techniques for catching American Shad:
Best Lures, Bait & Tackle to catch American Shad
American shad respond well to brightly colored lures, such as shad darts and crappie jig heads. They
will also hit on simple spinners, small spoons and weighted jig heads that have bright, curled tails.
Some anglers enhance their rig by threading 3-4 metallic or colorful beads just above the hook.
The following are fishing lures, bait and tackle that can be used to catch American Shad:
