Hickory Shad - 2012

Stock Status – Unknown – Commercial landings fell in 2011 for the first time since 2007 and have fallen below the ten year average. The Division of Marine Fisheries (DMF) has not conducted any directed sampling since 1993.

Average Commercial Landings and Value 2002-2011 – 91,861 lbs./$19,640

2011 Commercial Landings and Value – 85,096 lbs./$23,607

Average Recreational Landings 2002-2011 – unknown, 2011 - unknown

Status of Fishery Management Plan (FMP) – In North Carolina, hickory shad are included in the Interjurisdictional FMP, which defers to the Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission (ASMFC) FMP compliance requirements. The ASMFC FMP for Shad and River Herring was approved in 1985 and Amendment 1 of this plan was approved in October 1998. Although Amendment 2 and Amendment 3 have been approved by ASMFC over the last two years, neither one deals directly with hickory shad.

Research and Data Needs – There is a need for all types of fishery dependent and independent data.

Current Regulations – There is no size limit. The recreational bag limit for shad is a 10-fish aggregate (hickory and American combined) per person per day.

Harvest Season - The N.C. Marine Fisheries Commission adopted a rule in 1995 establishing a commercial harvest season January 1-April 14; it is unlawful to take hickory shad and American shad by any method except hook-and-line from April 15-December 31.
 
Size and Age at Maturity – Males: 11.5 inches fork length (FL) / 3-4 years;  Females: 12.5 inches FL / 4-5 years

Historical and Current Maximum Age - 8 years

Juvenile Abundance Index 2002-2011 - 0.07  2011 - 0.02 (not validated)

Habits and Habitats - Hickory shad are anadromous, spending the majority of their life in the ocean, returning to fresh water to spawn. Spawning occurs from March - May in the coastal rivers and tributaries. It is thought juvenile hickory shad do not use the same nursery areas as river herring and American shad, but move quickly to more saline waters. Hickory shad will remain in the ocean until reaching sexual maturity, returning to fresh water to spawn.

For more information, email Amy Larimer at Amy.Larimer@ncdenr.gov or call 800-338-7805 or 252-264-3911.