Gizzard Shad in Michigan
Keeping, finding and weighing gizzard shad.
- No possession limitlimit
- 4.45 lbrecord
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Michigan gizzard shad: limits, records, range
The MDNR species list counts Gizzard shad (Dorosoma cepedianum) as other species; its range covers great lakes and inland. The digest row for statewide (species not listed, not trout or salmon, not threatened or endangered sets No possession limit, with the season open all year.
Topping the hook and line list: 4.45 lb, Grand River, 2026.
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| Where | Limit | Season |
|---|---|---|
| Statewide (species not listed, not trout or salmon, not threatened or endangered) | No possession limit | Open all year |
2026 Michigan Fishing Regulations (Michigan DNR; rules run April 1, 2026 to March 31, 2027). Retrieved October 22, 2026.
Record gizzard shad in the MDNR table
| Category | Weight | Length | Water | County | Year |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| hook and line | 4.45 lb | 20.3 in | Grand River | Kent | 2026 |
MDNR State Record Fish table, retrieved October 22, 2026; the table prints the year only and no angler names.
Michigan pages naming gizzard shad
Rivers naming gizzard shad
- Grand RiverIonia
MDNR Fish Atlas and Family Friendly Fishing lists, fishing site lists, trout stream layer, stocking and records; largest waters first.
Michigan species close to gizzard shad
- Black Bullheadother species
- Brown Bullheadother species
- Yellow Bullheadother species
- Common Carpother species
- Freshwater Drumother species
- Bowfinother species
- Longnose Garother species
- White Perchother species
- Bigmouth Buffaloother species
- Black Buffaloother species
- American Eelother species
- Quillbackother species
The shore near Gizzard Shad through a lens
Photo: Notorious4life ( Uploads ), CC0 1.0
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Photo: Hgjudd, CC BY-SA 3.0
Photo: gabe popa, CC BY 2.0
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Photo: NPS, Public domain
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gizzard shad in Michigan: quick answers
What is the Michigan bag limit for gizzard shad?
No possession limit on statewide (species not listed, not trout or salmon, not threatened or endangered; season open all year. Other waters carry their own rows.
What is the Michigan record gizzard shad?
4.45 lb from Grand River, Kent County, in 2026 (hook and line).
Where do gizzard shad live in Michigan?
1 water page on this site name it, starting with Grand River.
Where were gizzard shad planted?
No stocking event since January 2024 names it.
Is gizzard shad a game fish in Michigan?
Dorosoma cepedianum; other species in great lakes and inland.
Is the Michigan gizzard shad season open now?
Open all year on statewide (species not listed, not trout or salmon, not threatened or endangered.
Is a separate stamp needed to fish for gizzard shad?
Anglers 17 and older carry a Michigan all-species fishing license: $26 a year for residents, $76 for nonresidents, $11 for seniors or $10 for one day.
Do Michigan charters fish for gizzard shad?
The guides page lists captains by town instead.
Target gizzard shad on Michigan water
The lake pages above carry launches, fish lists and limits.