American shad make their return to Central Virginia

The shad have come home.
For the past few years, the Department of Game and Inland Fisheries has been releasing American shad fingerlings in the Rivanna River in hopes that this anadromous species would spend four to five years in saltwater, then return to the point of their freshwater release in order to spawn. With a passageway now installed at Bosher’s Dam in Richmond, the shad have direct access up the James River and into its tributaries, including the Rivanna River. And now, for the first time in over 100 years, American shad have returned to their native waters.
“The shad are wall-to-wall at the base of the South Rivanna Dam at 29 North,” said Ross Tierney, owner of Mountain River Outdoors. “These are American shad averaging 3 to 3 1/2 pounds.”
American shad are a threatened species and, as such, must be released immediately when caught. Hickory shad, a close cousin, may be creeled. It is unclear yet if hickory shad are in the Rivanna River, but the American shad sure are.
“Shad have tremendous leaping abilities,” Tierney said. “They can be caught on either fly rods or light-weight spinning tackle. We have hundreds of special jigs in stock designed specifically to catch shad.”
It is possible, but not yet confirmed, that the shad are scattered up and down the Rivanna River — possibly in the North Fork Rivanna, the Rockfish River, and other tributaries of the James.
“Fishermen discovered the shad at the base of the dam just a few days ago,” Tierney noted. “Those who know the shad are there are catching and releasing them by the hundreds.”
To distinguish American shad from the hickories, examine the lower jaw. The hickory shad has a long, projected lower jaw while the jaw of the American shad is entirely enclosed within the upper jaw when the two are pressed together. So if the fish has a slight overbite, it’s an American shad. Let it go.
American shad, sometimes called white shad, are 4 to 5 years old when they make their first spawning run. Life expectancy can be 8 to 9 years. American shad can attain weights of 6 pounds or more.
It is thought that shad don’t feed when they are spawning, but instinctively snap at a dart or lure, which gets in the way and hooks the fish. When a fish hooks up, there is no doubt about it, Six, seven or eight dramatic leaps can be expected with line ripping off the spool.
Only a freshwater fishing license is required to fish for shad in the Rivanna, so make sure yours is up to date. Also remember, it is strictly illegal to creel an American shad. So if in doubt, let it go. And report anybody you see who keeps them.
The arrival of these shad has tremendous economic implications for Charlottesville and Albemarle County. Literally tens of thousands of anglers ascend on Fredericksburg each year to catch shad in the Rappahannock River. These anglers buy tackle, ice, gas, eat at restaurants, stay at motels and dine out. And they release every American shad they catch.
Now it’s Charlottesville’s turn to enjoy an outstanding fishery. Hopefully, we’ll keep our rivers clean enough that the American shad will return for many years to come.