SlotGaugeCheck a catchHickory Shad regulations in Delaware
Shads and Herrings · Saltwater · 2026 season
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 BaysOpen 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 in any combination with American Shad
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.
Read more about Hickory shad on Wikipedia →
Text from Wikipedia, CC BY-SA 4.0. Regulations on this page come from DNREC Division of Fish & Wildlife, not Wikipedia.
All 196 Delaware species A–Z →
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.