Hickory shadin North Carolina
Alosa mediocris
The rule in North Carolina
North Carolina’s own rule for hickory shad in state waters, out to 3 nautical miles.
Aggregate creel set by annual DMF proclamation; American-shad sub-caps vary by river system.
Counts toward an aggregate limit: Shad (American + hickory).
NC DMF 2026· checked · likelyOpen
How to tell it
Lower jaw juts past the upper; spring river runs. More on the hickory shad page: every state’s rule, the records, and how anglers catch it.
Hickory shad in other states
In the app
Point the camera at a hickory shad in North Carolina and this rule is on the screen before you take the picture. No signal needed.
Get the appHickory shad in North Carolina: the questions
What is the size limit for hickory shad in North Carolina?
No size limit.
How many hickory shad can you keep in North Carolina?
10/day aggregate with American shad. It counts toward an aggregate: Shad (American + hickory).
When is hickory shad season in North Carolina?
Open year-round.
How current is this North Carolina hickory shad rule?
Source: NC DMF 2026, last checked Sep 20, 2026. A watchman re-reads the agency's pages nightly. Rules change mid-season by proclamation; the official rulebook is the final word.