Hickory Shad regulations in Delaware

Shads and Herrings · Freshwater · 2026 season

Is it a keeper? Hickory Shad has no size limit today, with a daily limit of 10.

Hickory Shad size limit, season and daily limit

Where	Season	Size limit	Daily limit
State waters	Open year-round	No size limit	10 in any combination with American Shad
Nanticoke River	Closed to harvest	—	—

Notes

CLOSED on the Nanticoke River and its tributaries.

Exact DNREC wording

Season: Ocean/Delaware Bay and Tributaries/Delaware River and Tributaries/Inland Bays:Open Year-RoundNanticoke River/Tributaries: CLOSED – Both commercial and recreational Hickory shad are CLOSED to harvest on the Nanticoke River and their tributaries
Size: No Size Limit
Limit: 10

Source: DNREC Division of Fish & Wildlife, captured 2026-09-20 (2026 season).

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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.

Text from Wikipedia, CC BY-SA 4.0. Regulations on this page come from DNREC Division of Fish & Wildlife, not Wikipedia.

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Frequently asked

What is the size limit for Hickory Shad in Delaware?

No size limit in Delaware state waters.

How many Hickory Shad can you keep per day in Delaware?

10 in any combination with American Shad.

When is Hickory Shad season in Delaware?

Open year-round.

Is my Hickory Shad a keeper today?

Hickory Shad has no size limit today, with a daily limit of 10.