American Shad Fishery

The American shad is the largest herring in North America, commonly reaching a size of 4 to 6 pounds. It is both recreationally and commercially important. A mature female may produce between 100 and 600 thousand eggs per spawn and most spawning will occur in the mainstem river. Seventy-eight miles of mainstem river was opened by the Quaker Neck Dam Removal Project. American shad catches have plummeted fom more than 8 million pounds in 1896 to 205 thousand pounds in 1995. At one time, North Carolina produced more striped bass and American shad than any other state (Smith 1907, The fishes of North Carolina). At that time the Neuse River produced more American shad than any other river in North Carolina.

Visit the North Carolina Ecological Services Home Page
Visit the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service Home Page

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