Hickory Shad regulations in New Jersey

· Saltwater · 2026 season

Is it a keeper? Hickory Shad has no size limit today, with a daily limit of 6.

Hickory Shad size limit, season and daily limit

Where	Season	Size limit	Daily limit
NJ marine waters	Open year-round	None	6 shad combined

Notes

A 2026-10-31 check against the official source found a discrepancy in this species' zones. Read the official wording before keeping the fish: https://www.eregulations.com/newjersey/fishing/freshwater/delaware-river

Exact NJDEP Fish & Wildlife wording

Season: Open year-round
Size: None
Limit: 6 (shad combined; maximum of 2 American shad in Delaware River; no American shad elsewhere)
statewide — as printed: “SHAD Hickory Shad American Shad | Delaware River & tributaries: No Closed Season None 6 (maximum of 2 American shad) | All other marine waters: 6 (no American shad may be harvested or possessed)”

Source: NJDEP Fish & Wildlife, captured 2026-10-04 (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 NJDEP Fish & Wildlife, not Wikipedia.

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Frequently asked

What is the size limit for Hickory Shad in New Jersey?

None in New Jersey state waters.

How many Hickory Shad can you keep per day in New Jersey?

6 shad combined.

When is Hickory Shad season in New Jersey?

Open year-round.

Is my Hickory Shad a keeper today?

Hickory Shad has no size limit today, with a daily limit of 6.