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Photo: USFWS, Public domain · Wikimedia Commons
Alosa sapidissima
How to catch American shad
American shad feed in 50–72°F water and bite best at 58–68°F. Fish Scouter's season calendar follows them in 14 waters.
15 pts · trophy at 20"Feeds 50–72°FBest 58–68°FOut of season nowRiverBridge
About
The poor man's tarpon of the St. Johns: the shad run up the river from the sea every winter to spawn, and from January to March the flats above Lake Monroe are full of fly rods and jumping fish.
How to fish it
Troll or cast small darts and spoons in the St. Johns channel between Puzzle Lake and Lake Monroe from January to March.
What it eats
shad dartstiny spoonsflies
What to fish it with
the sizes that fish itLeader10–20 lb fluorocarbon
Hook#2–3/0
Jig head1/8–1/2 oz
Braid10–30 lb
The rule
not confirmed hereTen per day, shad and herring combined — confirm at MyFWC.
The current rule →Where it is, month by month
PPeakSSpawningAArriving·AroundLLeaving
Fresh water by state