Shad?

[pwf]

Took the new outback out in the pocomoke today instead of the ocean (rough and foggy) caught my 1st fish from the kayak, a spot Saw some big fish which I was told were shad. I tried and tried but they wouldn't bite. They were breaching the surface often. They looked good sized 1-1.5 ft. Any advice on catching these guys?

[ictalurus]

If they were American or hickory shad, then shad darts, small curly tails, and small spoons would work. Where I fish, I reel quickly, pause, then reel again. They usually hit at the pause. However, where I fish for shad (Occoquan and the Rappahannock), it's pretty shallow and rock with some current. If the fish were gizzard shad, they rarely hit lures, but you might snag one.

[HJS]

If they were breaching the surface porpoise-like then they were most likely gizzard shad. Basically a trash shad. They rarely if ever bite a lure or baited hook.

[pwf]

I'll take it they were gizzard shad, that way it wasn't my lack of skill, just that they don't hit

[kayak456]

WHOA. where did u catch that spot?

[Backwater]

Do you have a picture of the spot? Been fishing the pocomoke for years and never heard of a spot in there its almost completely fresh water in the area of shad/milburn landing and up. The area around pocomoke sound could definitely have spot because of the tidal influence. As far as the fish you saw hickory shad spawn heavily in the pocomoke but not as many American shad. The predominant fish species biting there now will be white perch and crappie with a decent number of pickeral and bass as well. I have never seen or heard of gizzard shad in there but they surely could be. Another possibility is you saw some gar which are really common in the pocomoke and constantly breach the surface, they range in size from 1-4+ feet the thing is they are really finicky biters and are really tough to catch. I made some homemade gar rope lures one summer and tried it a few times with no success.

[pwf]

No pic of the spot. Didnt think it was a big deal, just mentioned it as a joke. Maybe some stripers from off the beach this weekend. If I get one, you can count on a photo. Got some deep diving bombers, I'm hearing they are biting within a 1/2 mile from shore.