American shad, Alosa sapidissima, is also known as white shad. They are an anadromous species spending most of their time lives in the ocean but travelling up the coastal rivers to spawn. They range form on the Atlantic coast from the Gulf of St. Lawrence in Canada to St. Johns River, Florida.
They average about 3 to 4 pounds but some grow as large as 12 pounds. Sport fisherman catch shad in the spring when they make their runs up the rivers to spawn. They are in the Cape Fear River near Lock & Dam #1 in March and early April.
