Species: Alosa sapidissima, American Shad

Alosa sapidissima (Wilson, 1811)

American Shad

Deep bodied, moderately compressed; upper jaw with a distinct central notch into which the lower jaw fits; upper edge of lower jaw not rising steeply within mouth; lower jaw not projecting when mouth is closed; no or minute teeth at front of jaws; 59-73 slender lower gill rakers, upper rakers long, folding down over lower ones; gill rakers on rear surface of upper part of 3rd gill arch; dorsal fin at about mid-body; pelvic fins (i, 8) below dorsal fin; anal fin short and well behind dorsal fin base; a forked tail fin; all of centerline of belly with keel of scutes (hard, spiny scales); no scutes before dorsal fin; scales smooth, well attached.

Upper back blue-green with a metallic lustre, shading to silvery below; a dark spot behind gill cover of adults, sometimes followed by other spots or a second row of spots along side; fins pale green; tail tips sometimes dark.

Reaches 76 cm; IGFA record 5.1 kg.

Coastal pelagic, enters freshwater and brackishwater to spawn.

Depth range: 0-100 m.

Canada to Florida.