SlotGaugeCheck a catchAmerican Shad regulations in Connecticut
· Saltwater · 2026 season
American Shad size limit, season and daily limit
| Where | Season | Size limit | Daily limit |
|---|---|---|---|
| Connecticut River system | Open year-round | No size limit | 6 American + hickory shad combined |
| All other state waters | Closed to harvest | — | — |
Exact CT DEEP wording
- Season
- Open year-round
- Size
- None
- Limit
- 6 fish per angler (American and Hickory Shad in aggregate)
- Connecticut River system — as printed
- “American Shad: Daily creel limit: 6 fish per angler (American and Hickory Shad in aggregate); all state waters closed, except the Connecticut River System”
- All other state waters — as printed
- “***American Shad: all state waters closed, except the Connecticut River System”
Source: CT DEEP, captured 2026-10-04 (2026 season).
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About the american shad
Species of fish
The American shad is a species of anadromous clupeid fish naturally distributed on the North American coast of the North Atlantic, from Newfoundland to Florida, and as an introduced species on the North Pacific coast. The American shad is not closely related to the other North American shads. Rather, it seems to form a lineage that diverged from a common ancestor of the European taxa before these diversified.
Read more about American shad on Wikipedia →
Text from Wikipedia, CC BY-SA 4.0. Regulations on this page come from CT DEEP, not Wikipedia.
All 34 Connecticut species A–Z →
Frequently asked
What is the size limit for American Shad in Connecticut?
No size limit in Connecticut state waters.
How many American Shad can you keep per day in Connecticut?
No daily limit.
When is American Shad season in Connecticut?
Open year-round.
Is my American Shad a keeper today?
American Shad is closed to harvest. Release it.