American Shad — 2016

Stock Status – Concern – Commercial landings decreased in 2015, and were below the 10-year average due to changes in management. A coastwide stock assessment for American shad was completed in August 2007, which indicated stocks in the Albemarle Sound and tributaries were low but remained stable and stock status in other systems of the state was unknown. In 2013 a Sustainable Fishery Plan was enacted to manage the fishery. The N.C. Division of Marine Fisheries is currently collecting fishery dependent and independent data in all systems.

Average Commercial Landings and Value 2006-2015 – 199,518 lbs./ $204,878

2015 Commercial Landings and Value – 98,118 lbs./ $93,657

Average Recreational Landings – Not available

Status of Fishery Management Plan (FMP) – In North Carolina, American shad are jointly managed by the North Carolina Marine Fisheries Commission and the North Carolina Wildlife Resources Commission, and are included in the Interjurisdictional FMP, which defers to Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission (ASMFC) FMP compliance requirements. An ASMFC FMP for Shad and River Herring was approved in 1985 and Amendment 1 of this plan was approved October 1998. Since the 2007 coast wide stock assessment the ASMFC approved Amendment 3 to the Shad and River Herring FMP in February 2010. Nursery and spawning habitat for American shad will be evaluated to assess habitat degradation, barriers to migration, and water quality. Amendment 3 requires a sustainable fishery management plan (SFP) for all systems that will remain open to commercial or recreational fishing. North Carolina’s American Shad Sustainable Fishery Plan was approved by the ASMFC in 2012. The 2015 commercial season for all areas occurred during February 15 to April 14 except the Cape Fear River where the season ran from February 20 to April 11. Due to SFP triggers being met in the Albemarle Sound Management Area, a shortened 2014 and 2015 commercial fishing season occurred from March 3 to 24 each year.

Research and Data Needs – Conduct spawning area surveys and juvenile abundance surveys in all NC river systems; improve and expand methods of monitoring catch and effort data in commercial and recreational fisheries; establish indices of abundance in all N.C. river systems utilizing dependent and independent data; validate current aging techniques for American shad.

2015 Regulations – There is no size limit. The recreational bag limit in Albemarle Sound, Roanoke, Neuse and Bay rivers is a 10-fish aggregate (hickory and American combined) per person, per day, of which only one American shad can be taken within the 10-fish aggregate. The Cape Fear River and tributaries recreational limit is a 10-fish aggregate of which no more than 5 may be American shad. In the Pamlico and Pungo rivers, Pamlico Sound, and other coastal and joint waters the limit is no more than 10 fish in the aggregate per person, per day recreationally.

Check with the N.C. Division of Marine Fisheries for the most recent proclamation on commercial seasons and gear restrictions.

Harvest Season – The N.C. Marine Fisheries Commission adopted a rule in 1995 establishing a commercial harvest season of January 1-April 14; it is unlawful to take American shad and hickory shad by any method except hook-and-line from April 15-December 31. Specific area seasons are announced by proclamation each year for clarification.

Size and Age at Maturity – Males: 12-17.5 inches fork length / 3-5 years
Females: 15-19 inches fork length / 4-6 years

Maximum Age – 10 years

Juvenile Abundance Index 2006-2015 – 0.50, 2015 – 1.73

Habits and Habitats - American shad are anadromous, spending the majority of their lives in the ocean, returning to fresh water to spawn. Spawning occurs from March to mid-June, primarily in the high flow portions of rivers where there is sufficient current to suspend and move the eggs. Juveniles spend their first growing season in their natal river and sound systems until the water temperatures decrease, triggering emigration to the ocean in the fall and winter. American shad will remain in the ocean until reaching sexual maturity and return to fresh water to spawn.

For more information, contact Holly White at Holly.White@ncdenr.gov or (800-338-7805 or 252-264-3911).