View Full Version : Question: Shad fishing in rivers
markw1946
03-01-2009, 06:24 PM
I live within 30 minutes of the James river near Richmond, VA. As a young teenager I use to fish for shad off the rocks at the fall line in Richmond in the spring. I am now 63 and would like to take my grandson fishing for shad in my boat below the fall line. After all these years I've forgotten what time of year the shad start to run and when the best time is to fish for them. I want my grandson to have a positive outing, catch some fish and not become bored.
Can anyone give me pointers.
Thanks, Mark
Sea Level
03-01-2009, 11:46 PM
I live within 30 minutes of the James river near Richmond, VA. As a young teenager I use to fish for shad off the rocks at the fall line in Richmond in the spring. I am now 63 and would like to take my grandson fishing for shad in my boat below the fall line. After all these years I've forgotten what time of year the shad start to run and when the best time is to fish for them. I want my grandson to have a positive outing, catch some fish and not become bored.
Can anyone give me pointers.
Thanks, Mark
Mark, my recollection with Shad fishing in the rivers feeding the Chesapeake is look for them when the Dogwoods begin to bloom -- around mid April. Like so many fish, early morning is generally good. Little yellow shad darts on 4 pound test. White, or American, Shad seemed to precede the Hickories -- lots of fun. Here in Florida the Shad run takes place mid January to mid March in the St. Johns River. Good luck to you and your grandson.
release
03-04-2009, 05:35 PM
Mark I fish the Potomac, a little north of you. The shad runs have decreased mightily since you were a kid but are still substantial enough to fish. Late March to maybe May first or so for the runs up here. It has been a cold winter so i think they will be a little late this year. You can watch for corrorants as a good sign they feed on the shad and herring that run in the spring so when you see them begin to show in numbers you know the shad or herring have arrived. Good luck. gary
bstarling
03-04-2009, 05:50 PM
Back in the 60's I caught lots of shad around the 14th st bridge. Had many good times down there. Is that still a good location?
Bill:fishing:
Fishbreath
03-04-2009, 05:56 PM
Actually, on the Potomac last year, we had one of the best Shad runs in many years. There were many nice whites as well as the typical hickories. By my recollection the hickories come first but that is really no big deal as the hickories are the real aerial acrobats and more plentiful.
Mark, your son may get bored casting darts for shad, if that's the case, drop a bottom rig with small hooks and blood worms or nightcrawlers over the side. There should be plenty of white perch and catfish in the river. Just watch out for the sharp fins and gills.
Another way to fish from a boat for the shad is to set out your double-dart rigs and just let them hang/drift back behind the boat. Occasionally pick up the rod and raise it gently and slowly, then lower it again. Keep your drag set loose otherwise, you'll rip their lip. Very paper thin. Good luck! Nothing like setting a kid loose on some shad and listening to them holler as the shad jump out of the water. :D
skunk king
03-04-2009, 06:00 PM
we used to crush them on Walker's Dam at the Chickahomny. Filled at 50qt cooler in a couple hours. We just foul hooked them, sorta like some people fish for spanish mackerel on piers. We'd put 6-8 small, gold hooks on the line and just snag them as the crammed into the damn. Like fish in a barrel :)
Fishbreath
03-04-2009, 06:03 PM
Just remember, its all C&R (Catch and Release) for shad in Virginia, Maryland, and DC.
skunk king
03-04-2009, 06:07 PM
Just remember, its all C&R (Catch and Release) for shad in Virginia, Maryland, and DC.
That's right, I was thinking of herring :)
Fishbreath
03-04-2009, 06:13 PM
Yep ;)
chris storrs
03-04-2009, 07:24 PM
Just remember, its all C&R (Catch and Release) for shad in Virginia, Maryland, and DC.
thought u can keep hickories?
chesapeake_kid
03-04-2009, 07:28 PM
nope, not even hickory they made the moritorium list
chesapeake_kid
03-04-2009, 07:32 PM
Here is the link do DC's regulations sent to me in another post by Gnatman. Seems I cant use sabikis in town anymore either.
http://ddoe.dc.gov/ddoe/cwp/view,a,1209,q,494749.asp
the shad run in richmond should be in full swing by the 2nd to 3rd week of march every year. this topic comes up but unless something has changed from last year, you should be able to keep hickories. i'll double check later at work.
from VMRC 2009 regs
AMERICAN SHAD
[Regulation 4 VAC 20-530-10 et seq.]
Illegal to possess American shad caught from the Chesapeake Bay and its tributaries
Click here to go to a MD web site showing differences between American shad and hickory shad (there currently are no restrictions on hickory shad or herrings).
http://www.mrc.state.va.us/Regulations/swrecfishingrules.shtm
AbuMike
03-05-2009, 08:47 AM
from VMRC 2009 regs
AMERICAN SHAD
[Regulation 4 VAC 20-530-10 et seq.]
Illegal to possess American shad caught from the Chesapeake Bay and its tributaries
Click here to go to a MD web site showing differences between American shad and hickory shad (there currently are no restrictions on hickory shad or herrings).
http://www.mrc.state.va.us/Regulations/swrecfishingrules.shtm
This is 100% right for VA. Only one thing I would add. If you plan on keeping any Hickorys be very careful because most of the Game Wardens either don't know or can't tell the difference between the two.
Openboat
03-05-2009, 09:30 AM
I can vouch for the poster who suggested including white perch gear (fishbites bloodworms). When my kids were younger they always wanted to keep everything we caught. When they caught a shad, and had to release it, they lost interest. We changed over to perch and they had a blast. Then the big catfish moved in and the fun started. Good fun and great pictures!
And if you take a bucket, kids can spend all day playing with the minnows and small fish. Ice cream on the way home is another tip I was given, and that is still part of our program.
At about 10 years old, my son changed his mind and only wanted the big American shad. Anything to get them started (and give us time to fish).
Any sign or word yet on the "leapers" in Richmond? We tried the Mattaponi last weekend and saw no signs of life with the exception of one carp.... Water was very cold and very clear... I'm hoping some of this run-off from the snow earlier in the week will dirty the water some and that the next few days warm temperatures will get the water temperature increasing...... Going to try again Sunday:fishing:
Zigh
><((((*>
:D
justinfisch01
03-05-2009, 11:05 AM
from VMRC 2009 regs
AMERICAN SHAD
[Regulation 4 VAC 20-530-10 et seq.]
Illegal to possess American shad caught from the Chesapeake Bay and its tributaries
Click here to go to a MD web site showing differences between American shad and hickory shad (there currently are no restrictions on hickory shad or herrings).
http://www.mrc.state.va.us/Regulations/swrecfishingrules.shtm
Don't know you get your info from but the MD DNR page says you can't keep either
http://www.dnr.state.md.us/fisheries/regulations/recregchrt.html
Don't know you get your info from but the MD DNR page says you can't keep either
http://www.dnr.state.md.us/fisheries/regulations/recregchrt.html
justin.
you should read the posts before you post.
the og post was concerning richmond. I posted VMRC(did you look at the link?) which is VIRGINIA Marine Resouces Comm.
The regulations are correct for VIRGINIA, as the VMRC website states. what is your issue with my post?
justinfisch01
03-05-2009, 03:22 PM
Click here to go to a MD web site showing differences between American shad and hickory shad (there currently are no restrictions on hickory shad or herrings).
It wasn't meant to sound liek I was being a smart ass...Just the way it was worded sounded like you could keep them in MD. It made me go back and check
Man, no shad here in NC! You guys are so lucky!;)
Openboat
03-06-2009, 01:58 AM
In looking back at other posts I have written about taking kids fishing I saw a few more tidbits you may (or may not) find useful.
Give them an Uglystick, so they can bang it around without you going ballistic.
Take small candy bars as snacks. That’s about the only time my kids get them.
Have a stick on the boat, long enough to reach the water. A kid can spend a happy half hour just trailing it along in the current (while you get to fish).
Take at least one or two bluegill or perch home and clean them with the kids. Check the stomach for what they were eating, let the kid play with it a little. Then fry them up as appetizers. It has been surprising to see how much pride they take in providing food for the table.
Enjoy every fish they catch and they will do the same.
Have a good time. I hope you get lucky and catch a fishing partner.
there_in_there
03-06-2009, 02:43 PM
Man i sure cant wait for shad season!!!! First time fishing for them down here.Got good insight on whe to fish for em now! Thanks so much Ben!!!
there_in_there
03-06-2009, 02:50 PM
Moon your only about 2 hours away from the shad too!
I am just playing around. My dad and I catch hundreds of shad here in NC each spring. The season is about to get started. Plan to take a trip next weekend. Remember you dont need expensive shad darts and spoons. Use 1/8 oz and 1/6 oz jig heads with 2 inch twister tails. My favorite is a pink head and white body. I have 100 to 150 darts and spoons and never use them. I catch more shad a jigs and twister tails. I often put 1/8 jig on top and 1/6 jig on the bottom. This rig has caught many hundreds of shad over the past 5 or six years and save me a lot of $$$.
CapnJack
03-17-2009, 01:05 AM
I am just playing around. My dad and I catch hundreds of shad here in NC each spring. The season is about to get started. Plan to take a trip next weekend. Remember you dont need expensive shad darts and spoons. Use 1/8 oz and 1/6 oz jig heads with 2 inch twister tails. My favorite is a pink head and white body. I have 100 to 150 darts and spoons and never use them. I catch more shad a jigs and twister tails. I often put 1/8 jig on top and 1/6 jig on the bottom. This rig has caught many hundreds of shad over the past 5 or six years and save me a lot of $$$.
Is that like a curly tail? What i call a curly tail is a white small body about 1/2" long with a flat curly tail. (hence the name i guess) Looks like a worm as the body then flat? I'm new to the area, never fished for shad and looking to do so when they do show!
Fishbreath
03-17-2009, 11:27 AM
Yes CapnJack, Moon is correct on that. You can use them with decent success. The perch like them as well.
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