So, I had some guys out shad fishing on the American River last night and Mike O’Connell of Danville hooks into this thing that looks like a striper in the water…wait, no, is that a small king?? That can’t be a shad…what the hell is it?
Holy crap…that is a shad!
In fact, it was definitely the largest shad I’ve ever seen. My Boga had it at 6 point something pounds and a quick guesstamation put her at about 24-25 inches. Even at that, she was still a pound and change off the state record and 5 pounds off the world mark. Can you imagine an 11-pound shad? If these things got to 20 pounds, you’d never land ’em!
Of course, the pics don’t really do Shad Kong justice…but when you’re out there day in and day out looking at countless 2 to 3 pounders, this one really stood out.
Prior to this one, the biggest mutant herring I’d ever laid eyes on was this one that Reilly caught at Shanghai Falls on the Feather a couple years back…yep, the fish he made me tromp back to the boat for the scale, 200 yards across the uneven clay, broken bottles, Doritos bags and wads of disgarded line…it weighed 6 pounds even.
Ray says
where can i get a shad in westcoast (san diego). I used to go to the oriental fish markets and get some but for the past 2 years there hasn't been any shad in san diego, man i need some shad.
greg mcelroy says
dam jd , frkn monster 4 sure !!!