222 
Fishery Bulletin 112(2-3) 
Figure 1 
Commercial harvest of Hickory Shad (Alosa mediocris) and American Shad 
(Alosa sapidissima) in North Carolina for the period of 1972-2010. The study 
was conducted after a period of population growth for Hickory Shad from 
1990 to 1996. Baseline data for the 20 th century are those from 1890 (when 
landings of Hickory Shad were 104,780 kg [231,000 lb]) to 1902 (when land- 
ings had increased to 310,711 kg [685,000 lb] [Alexander, 1905]). 
During the 1990s, Hickory Shad populations in- 
creased, whereas populations of the other 3 Alosa spe- 
cies of the eastern seaboard decreased (Rulifson, 1994; 
Waldman and Limburg, 2003; Watkinson, 2004). This 
trend was evident in the commercial landings data for 
North Carolina (Fig. 1). Federal and state landings data 
for shads are sometimes difficult to interpret because 
often Hickory Shad are not separated from landings of 
American Shad. However, personnel of state fisheries 
agencies and recreational fishermen have noted these 
increases through much improved springtime opportu- 
nities (e.g., catches and abundance) in the recreational 
fishery throughout the range of the Hickory Shad. In 
North Carolina and other mid-Atlantic states, sportfish- 
ing for Hickory Shad is now common during February, 
March, and April, when adults ascend rivers to spawn 
before the other 3 Alosa species; this shad is also popu- 
lar as a secondary target in the spring sport fisheries 
for White Perch ( Morone americana ) and Striped Bass 
(M. saxatilis). The Roanoke River watershed just down- 
stream of the last dam at Roanoke Rapids, North Caro- 
lina, and the tributary Cashie River near the town of 
Windsor are popular areas for Hickory Shad sportfish- 
ing (Fig. 2). Angler harvest in the Roanoke River wa- 
tershed increased from a 1968 estimate of 143 Hickory 
Shad caught by rod and reel and 2377 fish caught by 
special devices, such as dip nets and gill nets (Baker * * * 5 ), 
5 Baker, W. D. 1968. A reconnaissance of anadromous fish 
to a 1996 estimate of 58,621 fish 
caught by hook and line that did 
not include the significant harvest 
by bank anglers (Kornegay 6 7 ). 
In 1996, concerns about over- 
harvesting caused the North Caro- 
lina Wildlife Resources Commission 
(NCWRC) to classify Hickory Shad 
as a game fish in inland waters 
(Fig. 1). Since then, the bag limit 
has been 10 shads in aggregate per 
day (but only 1 American Shad) in 
inland, estuarine, and coastal wa- 
ters (ASMFC 2 ). Subsequently, the 
recreational fishery for Hickory 
Shad and Striped Bass in the Roa- 
noke River has turned into a mul- 
timillion-dollar activity (McCargo 
et al. ). In 2006, anglers expended 
14,065 hours (standard error of 
the mean [SE] 11,589), primarily 
in March and April. An estimated 
81% of the shad were released; the 
remainder was harvested, but only 
1.4% of that remainder were Amer- 
ican Shad — indicating the impor- 
tance of Hickory Shad to the sport 
fishery. Similar trends have been 
observed in the nearby Neuse River 
watershed, which has supported 
a long-standing shad sport fishery (Marshall, 1977; 
Hawkins 8 ; Manooch, 1984). 
A comprehensive review of Hickory Shad popula- 
tions in South Atlantic coastal states was conducted 
by Rulifson et al. (1982), who documented that many 
of the life history aspects of this species were un- 
known. Since then, life history aspects of the Hickory 
Shad have been studied in Virginia rivers by Watkin- 
son (2004), the Roanoke River by Batsavage (1997) 
and Harris and Hightower (2010, 2011), the Tar- 
Pamlico River by Smith (2006), Murauskas (2006), 
and Murauskas and Rulifson (2009, 2011), and the 
Neuse River by Burdick and Hightower (2006), al- 
runs into the inland fishing waters of North Carolina. Final 
report for Project AFS-3, 38 p. [Available from Division of 
Inland Fisheries, North Carolina Wildlife Resources Commis- 
sion, 1751 Varsity Dr., Raleigh, NC 27606.] 
6 Kornegay, J. W. 1996. Unpubl. data. North Carolina 
Wildlife Resources Commission, 1751 Varsity Dr., Raleigh, 
NC 27606. 
7 McCargo, J. W., K. J. Doekendorf, and C. D. Thomas. 2007. 
Roanoke River recreational angling survey, 2005-2006. Final 
report. Coastal Fisheries Investigations, Federal Aid in Fish 
Restoration Project F-22, 67 p. [Available from Division of 
Inland Fisheries, North Carolina Wildlife Resource Commis- 
sion, 1751 Varsity Dr., Raleigh, NC 27606.] 
8 Hawkins, J. H. 1980. Investigations of anadromous fishes of 
the Neuse River, North Carolina. Special Scientific Report. 
No. 34, 111 p. Division of Marine Fisheries, North Carolina 
Department of Natural Resources and Community Develop- 
ment, Morehead City, NC. 
