08-02-2004, 03:27 PM
Alabama Shad
![[Image: alshad.jpg]](http://i.timeinc.net/fieldstream/images_small/alshad.jpg)
SHAD, ALABAMA Alosa alabamae.
Other names: Gulf shad, Ohio shad.
This member of the Clupeidae family of herrings and shads is an anadromous species virtually ignored by anglers. It does have some commercial significance, however.
Identification. A silvery fish like its other relatives, the Alabama shad has a large terminal mouth with upper and lower jaws of almost equal length. Its
has a single median row of small teeth, there is no lateral line, the posterior of the dorsal fin lacks an elongated slender filament, and there are 18 or fewer anal rays. In general it is nearly identical to the larger-growing American shad, but adult fish have 42 to 48 gill rakers on the lower limb of the first gill arch.
Size. The Alabama shad can grow to just over 20 inches, but is usually under 15.
Distribution. This species occurs in the northern Gulf of Mexico from the Mississippi Delta and Louisiana eastward to Choctawhatchee River in Florida; it also occurs in rivers from Iowa to Arkansas and across West Virginia.
Habitat/Life History. The Alabama shad is a schooling species that spends most of its life in the ocean; when mature it returns in early spring through summer to rivers and streams to spawn, inhabiting open water of medium to large rivers. Young shad descend rivers in autumn.
Food/Angling. The food habits of this species at sea are unknown but presumably similar to that of hickory and American shad. The Alabama shad is anadromous and only a potential angling target during upriver spawning migrations, during which time it does not feed. This smallish shad is only caught incidental to other activities, and is rarely a deliberate angling target.
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SHAD, ALABAMA Alosa alabamae.
Other names: Gulf shad, Ohio shad.
This member of the Clupeidae family of herrings and shads is an anadromous species virtually ignored by anglers. It does have some commercial significance, however.
Identification. A silvery fish like its other relatives, the Alabama shad has a large terminal mouth with upper and lower jaws of almost equal length. Its
has a single median row of small teeth, there is no lateral line, the posterior of the dorsal fin lacks an elongated slender filament, and there are 18 or fewer anal rays. In general it is nearly identical to the larger-growing American shad, but adult fish have 42 to 48 gill rakers on the lower limb of the first gill arch. Size. The Alabama shad can grow to just over 20 inches, but is usually under 15.
Distribution. This species occurs in the northern Gulf of Mexico from the Mississippi Delta and Louisiana eastward to Choctawhatchee River in Florida; it also occurs in rivers from Iowa to Arkansas and across West Virginia.
Habitat/Life History. The Alabama shad is a schooling species that spends most of its life in the ocean; when mature it returns in early spring through summer to rivers and streams to spawn, inhabiting open water of medium to large rivers. Young shad descend rivers in autumn.
Food/Angling. The food habits of this species at sea are unknown but presumably similar to that of hickory and American shad. The Alabama shad is anadromous and only a potential angling target during upriver spawning migrations, during which time it does not feed. This smallish shad is only caught incidental to other activities, and is rarely a deliberate angling target.
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