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Spring fish runs in New Jersey

New Jersey Spring Fish Runs: American Shad

American shad migrate up the Delaware River, the one New Jersey river where they may be kept, entering when the water reaches the mid 50s to 60 degrees.

New Jersey at a glance

Read October 13, 2026
1
Run
on 1 water
1
Species
American shad
60 to 65°F
Spawning water
for American shad
2
USGS gauges
on the Delaware River

Months, temperatures and places are the agency’s own, quoted on each run below. The verdict on each card is worked out in your browser against today and the latest reading at the gauge on that river.

Is the run on?

Every New Jersey run, and where it stands today

American shad

American shad on the Delaware River

When
Runs in spring; the water temperature tells you when.
Spawns at
60 to 65°F Pennsylvania Fish and Boat Commission
Shad run upriver from salt water into fresh water on their spring spawning migration when the water temperature is in the mid-50s to 60 degrees, with peak spawning activity occurring at about 65 degrees.
Pennsylvania Fish and Boat Commission, read October 13, 2026. Read it at the source
The rules on this water (2) and notes
Rule2026 regulations
Due to serious declines in American Shad numbers, the taking of American Shad, except for the Delaware River, is prohibited.
New Jersey Division of Fish and Wildlife, read October 13, 2026. Read it at the source
Closed to harvest2026 regulations
The taking or possession of any river herring in New Jersey is prohibited.
New Jersey Division of Fish and Wildlife, read October 13, 2026. Read it at the source
Note
American shad are the largest species in the herring family and migrate through New Jersey rivers to spawn.
New Jersey Division of Fish and Wildlife, read October 13, 2026. Read it at the source
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Sources

Where the New Jersey runs come from

Every month, temperature, place and rule on this page is quoted from these pages, read October 13, 2026. Rules change every year, so check the current regulations before you fish.

New Jersey fish run questions

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More fishing in New Jersey

Best fishing times in New JerseyThe feeding windows for your ZIP, every dayNew Jersey fishing licenseWhat it costs, and when it runs outTrout stocking in New JerseyThe stocked waters and the state report

Spring fish runs in other states

Every spring fish run, state by state

Runs, months, spawning temperatures, places and rules read October 13, 2026 from the pages listed under sources. Where a state gives no temperature for a species, the figure is the species figure its publisher gives, and the card says so. Water temperatures are the latest reading at a USGS gauge on the run’s own river, fetched when the page opens; a run without one goes by the months.