SlotGaugeCheck a catchHickory Shad regulations in Connecticut
· Saltwater · 2026 season
Hickory Shad size limit, season and daily limit
| Where | Season | Size limit | Daily limit |
|---|---|---|---|
| Connecticut marine waters | Open year-round | No size limit | 6 American + hickory shad combined |
Exact CT DEEP wording
- Season
- Open year-round
- Size
- None
- Limit
- 6 fish per angler (American and Hickory Shad in aggregate)
- statewide — as printed
- “Hickory Shad: Minimum length: None; Daily creel limit: 6 fish per angler (American and Hickory Shad in aggregate); Open Season: Open Year Round”
Source: CT DEEP, captured 2026-10-04 (2026 season).
Check your hickory shad in seconds
Say it, snap a photo, or type the length. SlotGauge answers KEEP or RELEASE using today's Connecticut rules.
Open SlotGauge for Hickory ShadMore
About the hickory shad
Species of fish
The hickory shad, fall herring, mattowacca, freshwater taylor or bonejack is a member of the family Alosidae, ranging along the East Coast of the United States from Florida to the Gulf of Maine. It is an anadromous fish species, meaning that it spawns in freshwater portions of rivers, but spends most of its life at sea. It is subject to fishing, both historic and current, but it is often confused with or simply grouped together with American shad in catch statistics.
Read more about Hickory 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 Hickory Shad in Connecticut?
No size limit in Connecticut state waters.
How many Hickory Shad can you keep per day in Connecticut?
6 American + hickory shad combined.
When is Hickory Shad season in Connecticut?
Open year-round.
Is my Hickory Shad a keeper today?
Hickory Shad has no size limit today, with a daily limit of 6.