Hickory Shad in Georgia
Keeping, finding and weighing hickory shad in Georgia.
- 8limit
- 2 lb, 10 ozrecord
Pick for troutPiscifun Carbon X ultralight spinning reel28% OFFSale $57.99 Photo of the species, not of a Georgia water: Ellen Edmonson and Hugh Chrisp, Public domain
How hickory shad fit into Georgia fishing
Georgia regulations class Hickory shad (Alosa mediocris) as a game fish. For statewide freshwater the rule is 8, open open all year.
A 2 lb, 10 oz fish from 2022 holds the freshwater mark in Georgia. WRD access point and forecast lists put it on 2 waters covered here.
How Georgia DNR describes hickory shad
Description. “Silvery with single dorsal fin; strongly oblique mouth; blue-black spot near upper edge of gill cover followed by row of poorly defined dusky spots reaching to below dorsal fin; lower jaw projects well beyond upper jaw; teeth on lower jaw.”
Habitat. “Spawns in fresh water when water temperatures between 58-62 degrees but spends most of its life at sea. Enters coastal Georgia rivers in winter and early spring (Dec – Apr).”
Range. “Ocmulgee, Altamaha, Ogeechee and Savannah River basins.”
Food. “At sea and in coastal waters feeds on small fish, squid, fish eggs, small crabs and crustaceans. Like American shad it is believed they do not feed much during the spawning run but may occasionally strike minnows or artificial lures.”
Tips. “Upstream migrating fish exhibit reduced feeding, but may strike at flies, artificial lures like flashy spoons and small fish/minnows.”
Quoted from the WRD fish identification page. The WRD entry covers several related fish. Checked October 2026.
Georgia creel and size rules for hickory shad
| Applies to | Limit and size | Season |
|---|---|---|
| Statewide freshwater | 8 | Open all year |
2026-2027 Georgia Hunting and Fishing Regulations (Georgia DNR). Checked October 2026.
Georgia's heaviest hickory shad on file
| List | Weight | Water | Year |
|---|---|---|---|
| freshwater | 2 lb, 10 oz | Ogeechee River | 2022 |
WRD freshwater record list and CRD saltwater game fish records; angler names left out. Checked October 2026.
Where hickory shad show up in Georgia
River pages naming hickory shad
- Savannah RiverRichmond
- Ogeechee RiverJefferson
WRD access point species flags and WRD fishing forecasts; largest waters first.
Fish listed next to hickory shad
- Largemouth Bassfreshwater
- Altamaha Bassfreshwater
- Bartram's Bassfreshwater
- Chattahoochee Bassfreshwater
- Redeye Bassfreshwater
- Shoal Bassfreshwater
- Smallmouth Bassfreshwater
- Spotted Bassfreshwater
- Suwannee Bassfreshwater
- Tallapoosa Bassfreshwater
- White Bassfreshwater
- Hybrid Striped Bassfreshwater
Banks, coves and shoals close to Hickory Shad
Photo: U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Savannah District, CC BY 2.0
Photo: Michael Rivera, CC BY-SA 4.0
Photo: Ken Lund, CC BY-SA 2.0
Photo: Stephen Rahn, CC0 1.0
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Things to know before chasing hickory shad
What daily limit applies to Georgia hickory shad?
8 for statewide freshwater; season open all year.
How much did the Georgia record hickory shad weigh?
2 lb, 10 oz on the freshwater list, from Ogeechee River in 2022.
Which Georgia lake is good for hickory shad?
2 water pages on this site, led by Savannah River and Ogeechee River.
Are hickory shad stocked in Georgia?
Only trout have a published WRD stocking schedule.
How does Georgia classify hickory shad?
A game fish, Alosa mediocris; freshwater water.
What dates cover hickory shad in Georgia?
Open all year on statewide freshwater.
Must an out-of-state angler buy a license for hickory shad?
Georgia asks anglers 16 and older for a fishing license: $15 for residents and $50 for nonresidents, each good for 365 days from purchase.
Who guides for hickory shad here?
No operator on the list names it.
For the trout herePiscifun Carbon XT ultralight spinning reel25% OFFSale $59.99 Plan a Georgia outing for hickory shad
Use the lists above to pick a spot, then check its page.