Hickory shad (Alosa mediocris) is a saltwater, freshwater, brackish species recorded in the United States.
Scientific name: Alosa mediocris · Water: Saltwater, Freshwater, Brackish
Size: up to 60 cm
The hickory shad is a pelagic alosid that schools along the coast in marine waters and also enters estuaries, tidal rivers and tributaries; in fresh water it keeps to the open water of large rivers. Its range is the western Atlantic, along the coast from Maine to the St. John's River in Florida. Adults feed on small fishes, squid, small crabs and other crustaceans as well as fish eggs, and it spawns in tidal freshwater before returning to the sea. Maximum length is about 60 cm standard length, commonly about 34 cm. It is a minor commercial species and a gamefish. Fishing vulnerability is moderate at 41 of 100 and resilience medium, the price category is low, and climate vulnerability is moderate to high at 55 of 100. IUCN lists it as least concern.
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