Toothless, schooling, migratory, plankton eaters that live in saltwater and travel up rivers to spawn. The American Shad has a dark, blue-green back, pale sides, silver belly, and weighs 3—8 lbs. The stomach and chest of American shad have sharp scales similar to that of a saw. American shad have one or more black spots in a row on their shoulder. Though rare, some American shad have two rows of black spots. When American shad enter rivers to spawn, their colors darken. Although bony, it has a delicate flavor when cooked. Many esteem its taste to be above the famous Atlantic salmon, without requiring sauces, herbs, or spices. Shad eggs, or “roe,” are a delicacy in the US.
Coastal
American Shad are native to the Atlantic Ocean, ranging from Newfoundland, Nova Scotia and the St. Lawrence River in the north, to areas of coastal central Florida in the south. During spawning season, American shad travel to the rivers of the United States, Canada, and Mexico to lay their eggs. American Shad were introduced to the North Pacific ocean in the 1800s.
Spring, Summer, Fall
Common
Diurnal
Plankton, small shrimp and fish eggs
American shad are social animals that swim in schools. They do not have a determined home range or defend territory. They are able to detect ultrasonic signals which helps them escape some predators that use ultrasonic signals for communication. Male American shad communicate to females to release their eggs by chasing and nudging the female's belly.
Least Concern
