SALEM’S HICKORY SHAD

Fishermen all along the North Shore have long recognized the importance of the recreational fishing industry in the City of Salem. Located just seventeen miles north of Boston, Salem is close to the hustle and bustle of city life, but also retains it’s small city charm. For as long as there has been a Salem, city residents have worked in harmony with the ocean and it’s splendor. Salem is a sea-side community that has roots that run deep into colonial times with it’s heritage tied to the ocean.

For generations residents have been introduced to the wonders of the ocean by way of fishing. For a good many fishermen, the bright orange skiffs that are rented at the Salem Willows were their introduction to fishing. On any given weekend, these brilliantly colored vessels can be seen dotting the harbor, spending untold hours bouncing jigs or drowning worms fishing for cod, flounder, pollock and mackerel.

As with many of the sought after species of fish, the hickory shad fishery was discovered by accident. Fishermen fishing for "schoolie" bass discover a new species of fish that provided them with a challenge and plenty of action. It didn’t take long for this news to spread throughout the fishing community. Stories were being told of a small fish that was a tremendous fighter, performed acrobatic flips and jumps and challenged fishermen’s skills to the maximum. It was described as a light line "tackle buster". It wasn’t long before more and more fishermen could be seen casting small lures and testing their skills. As it turned out, the discovery of the hickory shad was the "old timers" best kept secrets. In years gone by, fishermen would catch hickory shad and freeze them for later use as striper bait.

Little did these fishermen realize that a whole new fishery would open up to the recreational community. The hickory shad is a smaller version of the American shad and can be found in many rivers. Hickory shad is a member of the herring family and looks quite similar to the american shad, with the exception of faint dots that run along it’s side.

Each spring hickory shad run up fresh water rivers to spawn. They will generally arrive in the rivers just before american shad. These little "powerhouses" will seldom reach weights in excess of 2 ½ lbs., but don’t let their small size fool you. On light tackle this species is truly a game fish. It is not uncommon to see this fish pull off some impressive aerial maneuvers during a battle. Many fishermen have stood by the shore with a confused look on their face as they have realized they just lost their fish. These impressive fighter think nothing of charging a fisherman in mid air, rising a couple of feet out of water before twisting and turning it’s way to freedom. It generally takes fishermen a few "hook-ups" to learn how to battle these "sticks of dynamite".

The terminal tackle and methods for catching hickory shad are really quite similar to the techniques and tackle used for catching american shad. Shad darts are great bait, but unlike fishing for american shad they are not used in tandem. For some reason, single rigged shad darts are more effective. "Bumpers" are not necessary for hickory shad.

The hickory shad are fished at the edges of the fast current. Twitching the rod and making the lures dart upon retrieve is a proven method of success. Other types of lures are also common and include Roadrunners, Kastmasters and Panther Martins.

One thing that is important to the hickory shad fisherman is the time of day he fishes. Fishermen generally experience the greatest degree of success when they fish for hickory shad during the incoming night tide. The most productive tides are those when the high tide is between 9 p.m. and 1 a.m. as the action generally starts at dusk or about two hours before high tide. Productive fishing continues until about two hours after the high tide. Very few fishermen have reported any action during daytime high tides but this could vary at different rivers.

The best fishing for hickory shad in the Salem area is at the old Lead Mills located on Rt. 114 at the Salem/Marblehead line. Look for the old railroad bridge on the harbor side of the road. The stone support structure provides a good "stand" for casting and will support about a dozen fishermen. Plan on arriving early to "stake out" a prime piece of real estate. Once you have secured your bridge position, cast your line to the edge of the current. Once the tide starts to run out, this is easily distinguished. Retrieve your lure in an erratic motion, allowing your lures to drop close to the bottom before speeding your retrieve and lifting your rod tip. Always pay attention as hickory shad will generally strike on the drop and hit the lure hard. Set the hook with a quick, sharp set being careful not to set too hard as you will pull the hook out of the fish’s mouth. The hickory shad has a somewhat delicate mouth.

Another technique that has proven effective is to cast across the current and let your lure drop back as it crosses the current during the retrieve. Due to the limited access in this area, fly fishermen will have to make use of the roll cast and always be in control of their line. Small attractors and streamers have been effective for fly fishermen. The use of fluorescent colors and a bit of tinsel is recommended. Generally, aberdeen hooks in gold in sizes 6, 8 and 10 are best for all fishermen.