‘Shad 101’

 

TARBORO — As you read this, thousands of Hickory shad and American shad, which we call white shad locally, are leaving the Atlantic Ocean entering the Albemarle and Pamlico Sounds, and heading up freshwater rivers to spawn.  Fish that live in saltwater, but travel to and reproduce in freshwater are classified as anadromous.  Striped bass, better known as rockfish, also follow this process several months after the shad.

This migration of spawning fish provides about 4-5 months of outstanding local fishing action in the Tar, Roanoke, and Neuse Rivers.  We will probably hit about 2-3 weeks in March when I would put up our excellent local shad fishing against angling anywhere.  It’s that good!  If you like to catch fish, an eastern North Carolina coastal river is the place to be during hickory shad, white shad, and rockfish season.

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