shad

9/28/08 - I received the following email from Bill McWha. The meeting he refers to is also significant to the Shad population:

This coming week is the New England Fisheries Management Council's Herring Oversight Committee meeting in Portland,ME. Attached is the meeting announcement. It is open to the public and anyone can attend.

So far I am planning to attend this 2 day meeting, I understand that data will be released to begin to show where the river herring are being caught and by what fishery.

I've heard that all the blame may not lie solely on the midwater trawlers. However with their start-up in the early nineties and further ramp-up in 2000 and the direct time correlation between them and the decline in herring and shad populations, I suspect that midwater trawls have huge impact on these species.

Below is a link to the historic fish counts on the Connecticut River since 1967.

http://www.fws.gov/r5crc/Fish/hist.html

Remember that the Holyoke fishlift is 60 miles upstream from the mouth of the river. That is why there are estimates and actual counts.

I might even tape this session, if that occurs, video to follow.

Thank You All,

Bill McWha

799 Bridge St.

Suffield, CT. 06078-2328

860-668-7010

860-778-7167 Cell

bill5653@cox.net

9/6/08 - I have written the NEFMC an email requesting action to save the shad and striper population from the devastating off shore netting. How about you doing the same. Below are all the email address you need: 'jimfair@comcast.net'; 'smcgee@environmentaldefense.org'; 'cbat@comcast.net'; 'trawlers@maine.rr.com'; 'johnp@ccchfa.org'; 'johnp@ccchfa.org'; 'fishearlybird@cox.net'; 'danarice@peoplepc.com'; 'ecpa@adelphia.net'; 'Joseph.McGuiness@uscg.mil', 'George.lapointe@maine.gov'; 'terry.stockwell@maine.gov'; 'michael.sullivan@dem.ri.gov'; 'mark.gibson@dem.ri.gov'; 'paul.diodati@state.ma.us'; 'david.pierce@state.ma.us'; 'david.simpson@po.state.ct.us'; 'douglas.grout@wildlife.nh.gov'; 'claribel.mcbane@wildlife.nh.gov'; 'pat.kurkul@noaa.gov'; 'George.Darcy@noaa.gov'; 'francesflt@aol.com'; 'rodavila@comcast.net'; 'ripc@comcast.net'; 'egoethel@comcast.net'

9/5/08 - I got the following email the other day. It highlights one of the main sources for the decline of the American Shad. "I would like ask everyone who reads this blog, to begin to familiarize themselves with the Atlantic Herring Midwater Trawl Fishery and the affects of this fishery on American Shad and River Herring stocks.

Also to find out what the New England Fishery Management Council (NEFMC) is, as well as the Mid-Atlantic Fishery Management Council (MAFMC). These bodies regulate open-ocean fishing for a number of different species.

It is the believe of many people that the midwater trawl (MWT) herring fishery,which started in 1992, is the culprit to drastically lower anadromous fish returns to the natal rivers of the east coast.

The NEFMC is holding a meeting on Atlantic Herring October 7-9 Hilton Hotel in Mystic, CT.

It is my believe that the general public must start to exert pressure on the NEFMC, forcing them to curtail or stop this fishery.

Area 1A has been closed to MWT's for the summer fishery, Area 2 needs to be closed to MWT's during the Winter-Spring fishery.

Please write your concerns to the NEFMC or plan to attend the meetings in October.

http://www.nefmc.org/"

Thank You,

Bill McWha

860-668-7010

bill5653@cox.net

5/27/08 - The Shad Fishing Questionnaire for 2008 is available. If you are done shad fishing please send yours in. You may be lucky like Dave McCutcheon and win some lures next year.

5/1/08 - Customers in NE are reporting catches in Conn and Mass.

4/29/08 - New about the Tournament on the Delaware click here.

4/29/08 - My vacation trip to fish the Delaware last week was great, but the fishing was poor. I only had 7 shad in many, many hours of casting. However, the weather was outstanding and my fishing partners at my old haunts were fun as usual. I sure hope the run on the Delaware improves. I will be making the drawing for the free lures from those who sent in their 2007 shad fishing questionnaire at the end of this week, so there is still time to get yours in.

4/15/08 - Please visit www.reeltightclub.com. This sight was started by our service personel stationed in Italy. Do what you can to support them. It is our way of giving back for the outstanding job they are doing for all of us.

4/14/08 - The Delaware river is heating up and some guys are making some nice catches. I have reports of fishing being caught all the way up to Port Jervis, NY.

Get out there and enjoy the beautiful scenery.

4/13/08 - I am still accepting 2007 Shad Fishing questionnaires for 2007, but will soon make the drawing for the winner of the free lures. I only have 10 entries so far so the chances of winning are pretty good. Get them in!

4/1/08 - Woo is humbled. It was so nice of Philadelphia to name their shad after me. They call them "Woos Shad". Check it out here. Ha Ha. It is April Fools Day.

3/16/08 - See another article about the Hudson river shad regulation changes from News Day.

3/15/08 Billy Smith notified me of some new shad fishing regulations on the Hudson river because of the very low number of fish. See Poughkeepsie Journal article. The next step could be complete ban of all fishing for shad. Please remember Catch and Release can help this situation.

2/28/08 Click the following link to read a nice shad article. Shad recipes.

2/25/08 - I have added a new button at the left so you can go directly to view the most recent report in one step. If you then want to enter a report just hit the return button. I now have shad flies for sale on Woo's Lures if anyone is interested. I also am adding a page of Shad River Maps . Still under construction. See button at left.

2/18/08 - The New England Shad Association site is back on the Internet. It is a good Shad site check it out. I got a recent report from a good customer that the shad are running pretty well on the OGeechee River in GA. Click here for info about this fishery. Article may be old, but it is still informative. I could not find a date. Rumor has it #2 chartreuse spoons are effective.

2/9/08 - I hear Shad Pappy is stepping down from the presidency of the Delaware River Shad Fishing Association. His dedication to the DRSFA and Shad fishing in general I am sure has been appreciated by all of us. Good Luck George! Now you will have more time for fishing.

2/8/08 - Check out the Lehigh Valley Watershed Conference and Shad Symposium on March 28th, 2008 · Holiday Inn Fogelsville, PA

http://www.lehigh.edu/~fjp3/wc_08/Program.html

1/31/08 - Fishing in Florida and SC is picking up. Get out there and give it a try. See 1st Shad picture of the year at the right. Thanks Clay.

1/17/08 - I collect Shad Fishing books. I both buy and sell. So if you have any old ones you would like to sell let me know. Reading about shad keeps me busy while I wait for the run to start. Please submit your reports from the St Johns where the action has started. Remember some of the information links that used to be on this page can be found by clicking the Woo's Shad Links button at the left. You will find new and current information there.

1/15/08 - The action on the St. Johns is starting to heat up in Florida. See shad reports. Also, it is apparent from the reports the boat guys on the Delaware are getting cabin fever. Idle chatter has started. They could at least start getting their gear in order. The southern boys are getting ready. I am starting to get backed up with orders at Woo's Lures. Get your orders in early. Remember once I start fishing, your order may have to wait. I am still accepting 2007 pictures to be posted and questionnaires. Get them to me before you are too busy fishing. Have fun and remember Catch and Release.

12/30/07 - Today I received an interesting email and some pictures from Sam Chapman. Thanks Sam.

I have attached it below: Smoking shad and shad spawning tank and egg filter are pictures.

"The Waldoboro Shad Hatchery provides American shad fry to the State of Maine for its shad restoration program on the Kennebec River. The hatchery receives adult shad that are placed in 15' tanks and allowed to spawn. The eggs are collected each morning and placed into incubators in the egg-fry culture building. Hatched shad fry are fed, marked and released into the Kennebec River By Maine Department of Maine Resources Shad Restoration staff. In 2007 the hatchery produced 9.2 million marked American shad fry for Maine's shad restoration program.

Not all American shad broodstock transported to the Waldoboro Hatchery survive the trip. Those that don't are salted and smoked. There is no better tasting smoked fish available anywhere. The 3 PM shad and beer break at the Waldoboro Shad Hatchery is the envy of many academic, state and federal employees. :o)

For further shad hatchery information, read McPhee's The Founding Fish, Chapter 5.

For information about shad restoration in Maine contact Nate Gray, Maine Department of Marine Resources Sea Run Fish and Habitat Division: Nate.Gray@maine.gov

Regards,

Samuel R. Chapman

50 Bremen Road

Waldoboro, ME 04572

1-207-832-7548

Remember to email me if you would like to be on the Shad Nuts email list, so you are notified of information updates concerning this site. Your email address is never sold or used for any other purposes.

If you would like to receive an email of recent Shad Fishing information from my site, please enter your name and email address into the Shad Quick Communicator above. Your information will be added to my SHAD NUTS bulk email list. You can drop your name from this list at any time if you wish. Names and address are never sold or given away for any other purpose. This way you will be alerted to significant changes on my shad site. If you are on the list and have a new email address, please send it to me.

Old info at bottom of page.

12/27/07 - Pictured above is a group of shad fishing enthusiasts who for many years have had a shad fishing derby on the St Johns in Florida. A wonderful way for friends to get together and have a fun time. Why don't you and some buddies start a similar event?

12/9/07 - I just came across a good article on a success story where a fish ladder was built to help the shad complete their spawning cycle on the Palmer River in Rehoboth, Ma. The success of this project was due to the hard work and persistence of a small group of people. Please read this article here. With the declining population of shad such a project gives us hope for a better future.

12/8/07 - I am in the process of redesigning this page to make it easier to find and use the links that used to be on the left side of the page. All the old links plus some new ones can now be accessed by clicking the blue Woo's Shad Links button at the left. I hope you all find this change helpful.

12/6/07 - Back on 11/12/07 I mentioned the ASMFC's report on Shad and Herring. I encourage all fishermen to read this report as well as all the information on their site about Amendment 2 which is being developed to manage the Herring and Shad populations. They are looking for public comments, so now is our chance to be heard. It appears this amendment will become law in 2009. I suggest everyone spend a few minutes every month or so to be informed about what is planned. Their site is very informative so go in and surf around. It is not just about shad and herring. Many of us are interested in fluke, stripers, lobsters and many other sea dwellers managed by the Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission. Their site is at http://www.asmfc.org/. The breaking news and publications links are particularly informative. The ASMFC state fish and game or DEP sites are also great sources for information. Links follow: NJ, CT , DE, FL, ME, US, MA, MD, NH, NY, NC, VA, RI, SC, Other States.

12/5/07 - More info from Mark Boriek : For now, 2007 will be the last year of Hydroacoustic monitoring of the Del. R. Adult shad population.

For 2008, discussions (net: lengths, depth, mesh & timing/# of hauls, etc.)are now underway to contract the Lewis Fishery to monitor the run. The Smithfield Beach gill netting (egg take) data & possibly electrofishing monitoring will also be employed.

Mark Boriek

NJDF&W

Bur. of Freshwater Fisheries

12/4/07 - I received the following from Mark Boriek: A total of 19,605 juv. A. shad were collected in 2007 during the months of August,

September & October at Trenton, Phillipsburg, the Delaware Water Gap & Milford,PA. A total of 48 seine hauls were conducted resulting in an average of 408 juv. A. shad / seine haul. This is the second highest second highest average in 29 year time series. 1996's average was 458. The 2007 Delaware River Hydroacoustic Population Estimate of adult American

shad was received from the contractor, Barnes-Williams Environmental Consultants. It was estimated that 181,600 +/- 1,600 adult American shad passed the sampling site (Route 202 toll bridge). Peak shad passage period was the last week in April through the first week of May, as expected from flows and river temps.

Also, NJ is hosting the 64th Northeast Fish & Wildlife Conference in April '08.

Here is the link http://www.neafwa.org/ ...........if anyone you know might be interested in doing a presentation +/ or a poster session.

Mark Boriek, Principal Fisheries Biologist

NJDF&W, Bureau of Freshwater Fisheries

908-236-2118

11/20/07 - I have a new soft cover copy of "The Founding Fish" by John McPhee for sale for $10.00 plus $3.00 S/H. This very informative and entertaining book about shad is considered a fishing classic. It is a must read for any shad fisherman. Email me if you are interested.

11/12/07 - The Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission (ASMFC) recently published an interesting report about shad and herring. You can see the complete report on their site at http://www.asmfc.org You want to find the Fisheries Focus report for October 2007. From the homepage click on the "publications" link at the left. On the publications page click on ASMFC Fisheries Focus monthly. That will take you to a page with the October 2007 Focus link. The report is mostly bad news about the Shad fishery. This highlights the pressing need to practice Catch and Release. Remember next year to handle those shad with care. They are a very fragile fish. If there is no improvement, we may see the day when shad fishing is banned as is the case with the herring in many states.

11/12/07 - Check out www.sharkbreak.com. A good source of relaxation while you wait for the 2008 shad season. Move cursor around the screen. My thanks to Steve D. who sent this link to me.

11/11/07 - I have a new website all about shad spoons. Check is out at

www.shadspoons.com. I would appreciate any input regarding the content.

7/22/07 - Click the following link for an old but interesting article on fishing the Columbia River: http://seattlepi.nwsource.com/getaways/061500/shad15.html

How about some reports from you guys fishing the Columbia. How was the season?

6/20/07 - Remember you can still catch shad after they spawn. Some died, but others return to the ocean. I got a report shad have been seen in the Smithfield beach area of the Delaware. Try some small lures you may be able to get them to hit.

I now have Woo's Blog. Check it out at http://woos-woofish.blogspot.com/

6/3/07 - Delaware still producing good numbers of shad in the upper river. Click the following link for New NY State record announced at http://www.dec.ny.gov/press/33943.html. Picture at right.

6/1/07 - I have been picking up some hickory shad at Cape Cod in the surf. Check out the huge shad. Bill Smith sent me the picture. See to the right.

5/17/07 - Who is Shad Pappy? Check out this link from the ReadingEagle.com.

5/15/07 - Fish are still running in the North River in MA. Woo caught a few more today.

5/10/07 - I finally caught a shad in Massachusetts. My first and also my first shad night fishing. Night fishing a narrow stream is quit a change from fishing the mighty Delaware. It took some getting used to using short rods and losing lots of dart in the snags and trees, but it was a lot of fun nevertheless. I was fishing the North river which has its annual run in high gear right now. It won't last much longer from what the regulars tell me. Last night I was knee deep in shad banging into my legs as I stood in the river. They are tough to get to hit the dart and when they do they are at an advantage because of the narrow river and the snags from over hanging trees by the banks. I only landed 2 fish out of 12 I hooked. One fish hit my leg so hard last night it actually hurt. I am hoping to still get a crack at the Delaware shad before the run ends. Anyone got some good shad pictures to post on my site? Send them along.

5/8/07 - Mark Boriek sent me a picture confirming a catch of Hickory shad on the Delaware in Trenton on 5/1/07 by Dave Bean. Go to 2007 shad pictures at the left to view the picture. Dave and a friend also took a bunch of Americans that day.

5/7/07 - I received a report that shad have been taken in the North river in Hanover, MA. Does anyone have any information about the shad run in the Merrimack or other rivers in Massachusetts? Please email me or submit a report. Thanks

5/2/07 - The shad run has started on the American River in Sacramento, CA. How about submitting some reports from the west coast!!

5/1/07 - The shad run has started in the Connecticut river. Fish have been reported taken as far north as Cromwell which is about 40 miles up river.

4/29/07 - I have reports that good catches have been made on the Delaware as far north as Port Jervis, NY.

4/28/07 - Click here to see DRSFA SHAD RESTORATION PROPOSAL sent to me by Shad Pappy. Action is picking up on both the Delaware and the Potomac rivers.

4/23/07 - Action seems to be picking up in Deer Creek and at the Conowingo

dam in MD. The Delaware action is still sort of slow for most guys fishing.

4/19/07 - Delaware action should pick up as the river starts to fall and warm up. Good weather is on the way. You know you can still catch shad in the dirty water. Check the reports page. Fish are being caught.

4/16/07 - Once again the cold weather and potential flood conditions from a Northeaster which has dump a ton on rain have made fishing for shad a nightmare. There are fish in the Delaware, but getting them to hit is extremely difficult. We need a good week of warm dry weather to get them active. The more southerly rivers a fairing a little better. Be careful out there with the fast water. Remember to wear those PFD's. Don't just throw them in the bottom of the boat. You guys wading have to be careful too.

4/4/07 - Catching shad continues to be slowed by the unusually cold spring. However, the fish are in the rivers waiting for the 50 degree temperatures to get really active. Check the reports page to follow their spawning run. I recently found interesting information regarding the shad in Canada. I added the link to the left or you can click here.

3/28/07 - With everyone being so interested in water temperature don't forget to check the river Water Temperature page on this site at www.woofish.com/watertemp.html or the link at the left.

3/27/07 - Questionnaire results are available see link at the left or click here. My thanks to all who contributed. I hope more of you will participate next year. Remember those who send in questionnaires are entered in drawing for 20 nice shad lures from Woo's Lures. See below for this years winner. Please send in your 2007 shad pictures. I will post as many as possible to my 2007 shad pictures page.

3/26/07 - Customers continue to tell me they are getting good action with shad in South Carolina. The spot most often mentioned is the Tailrace Canal. Double shad rigs are popular fishing there.

3/16/07 Joe Dunleavy wins the drawing for the free lures for submitting his 2006 questionnaire. Way to go Joe.

3/15/07 - I am getting backed up with shad spoon and dart orders. If anyone is interested, please get your orders in ASAP, to avoid delays in delivery time. I do the best I can, but soon I will be fishing which will slow things up a little more. You know what takes priority when the fish arrive. It ain't processing Woo's Lures orders.

3/15/07 - Delaware action should heat up at any time. Once that sun warms up the water closer to 50 degrees. Go to the hot water discharges of the power plants. Check out the following link about the shad on the St Johns in Florida. Go to Floridatoday.com and search the news archives at the right for "shad" or Bill "Sargent" the author. It is a sad story! Similar results will be happening on other rivers on the east coast. Do your part to preserve the shad fish stocks. Safe Catch and Release practices is one way you can participate.

3/13/07 - More and more southern and middle Atlantic rivers are producing shad. As the weather warms the activity will move more northward. Please submit your reports as the action starts in your area. Remember to send in pictures of some of the action, so I can post them on the site. This week I will be making the drawing for the free lures from those people sending in questionnaires. You have a couple of days to get your questionnaire for 2006 submitted. Your odds of winning are pretty good I only about a dozen submitted so far.

3/12/07 - This is not about shad, but should be of interest to all fishermen. If the wholesale slaughter of dolphins upsets you as much as it does me, here's a small chance to act to stop this needless destruction.

The video - http://www.glumbert.com/media/dolphin

The petition - http://www.petitiononline.com/golfinho

Please practice Catch and Release! So many of our fishing stocks are in trouble and need our help.

3/5/07 - I got a report that the Trenton Power plant gate is open. Also there was an unconfirmed report that a couple of shad were taken there. You guys on the Delaware better get ready for the action. However, this cold weather may give them lock jaw.

3/4/07 - I came across a good article about shad fishing the southern rivers especially the Roanoke river. Check it out at http://saltfishing.about.com/od/americanandhickoryshad/a/aa050405a.htm

3/4/07 - A couple of Woo's Lures customers have been tearing up the American shad on the Ogeechee river in Georgia. Their favorite lure seems to be the #2 one color chartreuse spoon which they troll. They keep buying me out. The following link has a good article about fishing the Ogeechee. http://saltfishing.about.com/od/americanandhickoryshad/a/aa070109a.htm

3/4/07 - DRSFA - Delaware River Shad Fishing Association. This is a great organization. If you are not a member consider joining up. They have their annual Flea Market on 3/11/07 in Bethlehem. Go to their site for details. I miss being able to attend this event. Shad Hot line call: 610-954-0578 and 0577 to receive reports. To submit a report contact Ron Marks at 610-791-0987. Check their website at http://www.geocities.com/shadhotline/index.html. Their site also has message board for submitting fishing reports. This organization is doing some good things which will help us all on the Delaware. Give them your support.

2/23/07 - I am still accepting questionnaire for 2006. You have about another week to get them in before I make the drawing for the free lures. How about some of you guys fishing the southern rivers submitting some fishing reports. Please click the link above to post.

2/23/07 - If you are interested in purchasing the new maps of the Delaware river that are being prepared by the DRBC, the Delaware River Recreation Maps should be available no later than May 2007 and will be priced at $25/set. Order details will be forthcoming; please keep checking their web site, www.nj.gov/drbc/recreation.htm, for new information regarding availability and order details.

1/29/07 - Ron Douglas from Dickson City, PA won the free lures drawing from the 2006 people who submitting shad fishing reports. He was smart enough to include his email address which is required to be a winner. It's not too late to submit your 2006 questionnaire. How about some fishing reports from you guys down in Florida. You must be getting some fish. Good Luck.

1/25/07 - I got a report that a few shad have been taken the last couple of weeks on the St. Johns river in Florida. Above is the first picture of the year I received of a 2007 shad taken from the St Johns. Clay Henderson is the fisherman. I am still accepting 2006 questionnaires. I will be making the drawing for the free lures in a couple of weeks. I have only received a few so the chance of winning is very good. Get them in.