Where Does American Shad Live?

American Shad lives in specific habitats. Knowing where to look helps you find and identify it.

Where to find American Shad

Water type

brackish

Depth

Primarily pelagic in marine environments (surface to 200m), but migrates into shallow freshwater rivers (0.5m to 10m+) for spawning.

Environment

Coastal marine waters, estuaries, and freshwater rivers (large to medium-sized, free-flowing systems with gravel or sandy bottoms for spawning).

Geographic range

Native to the Atlantic coast of North America, from the St. Johns River in Florida north to the St. Lawrence River in Canada. Introduced to the Pacific coast of North America, where it now ranges from Baja California to Alaska.

Explore American Shad