Inshore · 60 ft · beaches, bays, inlets and rips
American Shad
Alosa sapidissima. Out of season in every region we cover this month.
LaneInshore · 10 fa (60 ft)
Depth it holds7–66 ft
Prime water46–64°F (workable 46–72°F)
Holds in the column0–33 ft down below the surface, over 7–66 ft of water
Judged onsurface temperature (NASA MUR satellite)
Structurenone
How it's fished
Shad darts or small spoons swung through current on the spring run into the rivers.
Region by region — right now
| Region | Season | Prime water | Temp | Fish it at | Months |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| New England | off-season | reaches Penobscot Bay | 59°F | 0–33 ft | J F M |
| Mid-Atlantic | off-season | reaches Montauk | 69°F | — | J F M |
"Fish it at" is where this species' temperature band and its holding depth overlap in the water column, from the RTOFS profile (13 levels, 0–300 m) — the depth to actually put a bait, not just the place. "Prime water" is the furthest sampled station on the 10-fathom lane whose surface temperature sits inside this species' band. It is water, not a sighting report.
Charted grounds on the 10-fathom lane