Anglers love a fish that puts up a fight as it adds a measure of excitement to their fishing expeditions. This is one of the reasons that the Hickory Shad has become so popular in recent times. This little fish has a fight that belies its small size and it’s great for eating on top of that. In recent years, this fish has garnered enough attention to find its place in popular sports fishing magazines coast to coast.

The Hickory Shad has an unusual jaw-line – defined by almost the appearance of an under-bite. The lower part of the jaw typically curves upwards – toward the head of the fish.  The body is an unusual gray-green color and they almost always have a dark spot above the head. Another characteristic that singles them out is the shiny silver marking that runs down the side and flows to the belly of the Alosa Mediocre.

The Hickory Shad or Alosa Mediocre feeds on small bait fish, squid, fish eggs and crustaceans. Their spawning time is anywhere during the period of February and June and normally done in gravel bars. The more moderate the temperature, the more likely you are to find a spawning ground.  The female hickory shad typically lays eggs more than one time before she dies.  The eggs harden after being laid and can be found along the sea bottom.  These eggs mature, and typically are sexually mature sometime between the ages of two and four years. We have much to learn about the migratory patterns of these fish, as there is not much information about what happens to them in the open ocean.

We do know that they are found mainly in tidal waters during their spawning times.  In general, you can find these fish along the western Atlantic coast but they have been known to be found anywhere between Maine and Florida – their main spawning grounds can be found in Chesapeake Bay.

Fly fishermen are the most likely to be on the lookout for hickory shad.  Generally, the fish are more active and therefore easier to land during spawning season.  They prefer small spoons, artificial lures and flies as bait.  An ideal water temperature for landing the Alosa Mediocre is about 55 degrees, although it’s not unusual to find them in warmer or cooler waters either.  All in all, the recreational fishing enthusiast find these fish fun to fish for, especially given that they have fight in them that sometimes surprises anglers given the smaller size of them.

When you are out saltwater fishing it is important to make sure you have the right supplies. Some of the most popular brands include Shimano Reels, Penn Fishing Reels, and Daiwa Fishing Reels.

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