Gizzard Shad have the typical herring body shape with a deep, oblong body that is strongly compressed laterally. Color ranges from bright silvery-blue on the back, silvery sides and a dusky-white on the belly. A dark shoulder spot is common on younger fish, but may be absent from adults.
What’s the difference between shad and gizzard shad?
Threadfin shad are usually easily distinguished from gizzard shad by the fact that the upper jaw does not project beyond the lower jaw. The anal fin usually has 20-25 rays, as opposed to 29-35 rays found in gizzard shad. The upper surface is silver-blue and grades to nearly white on the sides and belly.
Can you eat gizzard shad?
Eat them. Unfortunately, gizzard shad, which weigh about 1 1/2 pounds each, are full of tiny bones that are hard to remove. So cooking shad requires some extra effort.
What is the best bait for gizzard shad?
When deep cranking points, you’re probably going to get bit by fish eating gizzards, and when there are fish shallow or on top, it will usually be threadfins the bass are after. Gilliland says that there a lot of good shad-imitating baits on the market, but the best are crankbaits and spinnerbaits.
What is the biggest gizzard shad ever caught?
The world record gizzard shad weighed 4.12 pounds and was caught in 2006 out of Lake Oahe in South Dakota.
How do I identify my gizzard shad?
Key ID Features: Gizzard shad have a deep body with silvery blue back and white sides and a deeply forked tail. Average shad are 6-8 inches long and weigh1-8 ounces. Younger fish have a dark spot behind the gill flap. Its dorsal fin sports a long whip-like filament on the last ray.
Are gizzard shads rare?
The Gizzard Shad is an extremely prolific and common plankton-feeding fish.
Will gizzard shad live in a pond?
Gizzard shad (Dorsoma cepedianum) also are a member of the herring family – Clupeidae. They occur in many rivers and reservoirs across the southeast and are occasionally stocked in ponds managed for trophy largemouth bass.
What does raw gizzard shad taste like?
American shad has a wonderful, distinctive, sardine-like flavor that is sweet, salty, and freshly fishy.
How do you attract gizzard shad?
Feeder creeks will attract Gizzard Shad. Marinas; Shad can be attracted to the Marinas because of their food source. Large algae bloom in most marinas and gizzard Shad are also attracted to the lights on the water. Creek mouths; Check in the mouths of feeder creeks!
Will shad bite a hook?
The best bait for American shad are small, artificial lures including jigs, spinners, spoons and similar lures. Shiny or brightly colored lures work best, although shad also are known to bite a shiny bare hook, especially attached to a swivel to give it some swaying action.
Where do gizzard shad go in winter?
In the winter, when the water grows much colder, the shad migrate back out of the creeks and into main lake depths. On some lakes, this can easily be 40 to 60 feet deep.
Do catfish like gizzard shad?
Threadfin shad and gizzard shad is one of the most popular and effective baits for catching blue catfish that there is. These bait fish can be fished whole and threaded on a hook or cut into chunks and put onto a hook (commonly referred to as “cut bait”).
How much does a shad sell for?
It can be sold at a base price of 60g, 75g for the silver quality, and 90g for the gold quality. A shad can be caught in the size range of 20-49 inches.
Where do gizzard shad go in the fall?
They don’t need to migrate in the fall to follow plankton. Schools of gizzard shad can stay offshore, in deep water virtually all year.
How long does a gizzard shad live?
Longer life spans are typical in the northern parts of its range and individuals live to 5-7 years and have been reported living up to 10-11 years (Etnier and Starnes 1993; Williamson and Nelson 1985; Miller 1960).
How big does a gizzard shad get?
6 to 18 inches
Typically not as silvery as other herring; some adults very dark overall. A 6-inch juvenile gizzard shad displays the short snout and elongated dorsal ray that are characteristic of the species. Size. Commonly 6 to 18 inches.
How can you tell if a fish is shad?
You can easily identify an American Shad because is a silvery fish with a single dorsal fin in the middle of the back. There is a large black spot directly behind the top of the gill cover, followed by 4-27 spots, which are generally smaller than the first.
What are gizzard shad used for?
American Gizzard Shad Interesting Facts
American Gizzard Shads aren’t targeted for human consumption, rather, to be used as bait for other fish species. The fish is often caught and sold as a basic cut or live bait in fishing shops.
How often do gizzard shad spawn?
Once a year
Spawning Temperature: 69-75 degrees. Spawning Time: April to May. Reproduction Cycles: Once a year. Spawning Locations: Hard bottoms like gravel and rocks, but also around dock pilings, seawalls and riprap in deeper water exposed to waves.
What do gizzard shad fish eat?
Diet and feeding habits
Gizzard shad are planktivorous in early life, feeding mainly on phytoplankton and zooplankton as larvae.