Last year, Maryland Department of Natural Resources Fishing and Boating Services conducted the American & Hickory Shad Logbook Survey, asking volunteer anglers to share their fishing reports, to which I happily contributed. In fact, last season, which for me ran mid-March through mid-May, was the best shad fishing I’ve experienced. Pretty cool!
Well the 2024 survey results are here and they offer a positive glimpse at just how good the shad fishing can be in our region. We’re eagerly anticipating this year’s runs. Without further ado, here’s the verbatim letter from DNR that hit the email inboxes of last year’s volunteer anglers, plus information on how you can participate this coming spring!
From Matthew Jargowsky, Maryland Department of Natural Resources–Fishing and Boating Services:
In 2024, the survey had 55 participants who reported a total of 178 fishing trips!
Anglers reported 311 hours fishing for shad, catching 30 American shad and 1,587 hickory shad between March 4 – May 9, 2024. The first hickory shad was caught on March 13 in Mattawoman Creek, and the first American shad was reported on March 17 from Deer Creek. Anglers participating online reported 83 percent of the total fishing trips in 2024, with the remaining trips reported by anglers using traditional paper logbooks. Paper logbooks are available upon request (see contact info below).
Fifty-six percent of hickory shad captures were in April. The 2024 hickory shad catch-per-angler-hour (CPAH) of 5.7 fish/hour was above the survey average of 5.0 fish/hour. The average angler caught 13.7 hickory shad per trip and the maximum number of hickory shad caught by an angler in a single trip was 130 fish!
Successful American shad fishing trips ranged from March 17 – May 9. Eighty percent of all American shad captured were caught after April 26. The 2024 American shad CPAH of 0.3 fish/hour was the lowest rate since the survey began in 2001. The average angler caught 0.3 American shad per trip and the maximum number of American shad captured by an angler in a single day was 7.
The information you provide through this survey is used to inform resource managers about the population status of these fish. Our survey relies on the continued participation of our anglers, and we appreciate the important role you play in monitoring shad abundance in the Chesapeake region. If you are fishing at Conowingo Dam next year, be sure to reach out to our staff biologists, and let us know how the fishing is!
The online shad logbook survey for 2025 can be found at: http://dnr.maryland.gov/Fisheries/Pages/survey/index.aspx or by searching for “Maryland Volunteer Angler Survey.”
If you have any questions about the American & Hickory Shad Logbook Survey, or would prefer a paper logbook, please contact Matthew Jargowsky at matthew.jargowsky@maryland.gov or 410-643-6785 ext. 2116.
