Capt. Charles Franklin Sr. of Lower Alloways Creek caught three American shad Thursday in the upper reaches of the Delaware Bay.
LOWER ALLOWAYS CREEK TWP. -- In Salem County it's a sure sign of spring -- the first shad has been caught.
Captain Charles Franklin Sr. of Lower Alloways Creek caught three of the prized fish with nets Thursday in the northern reaches of the Delaware Bay around Mad Horse Creek.
"It's going to be an early season this year," said Charles Franklin Jr., who was with his father on the bay when the catch was made.
When the American shad begin their run from the Atlantic Ocean through the bay and up the Delaware River to lay their eggs all depends on the weather.
The Franklins' catch included two doe -- female -- shad weighing about 4 pounds each. There was also a smaller male -- a buck -- estimated around 2 pounds.
While some fishermen use a regular line and hook to catch shad, the Franklins use the traditional nets which they cast out onto the waters and pull back in -- hopefully containing fish. The fete last week continues a long streak for the family of bringing in the first local shad.
The American shad lives in the ocean most of its life, but in the spring the fish make their way back to the fresh waters where they were born to spawn and lay their eggs.
"This year we expected it to be a little bit early because of the weather," said Brian Neilan, assistant biologist with the Bureau of Marine Fisheries from the New Jersey Fish & Wildlife Division. "Their spawning runs are really tied to the temperatures."
Neilan says the shad start with gathering in the Delaware Bay when the water temperature is around 40 degrees. When it hits 50 degrees they begin their run upriver and when it warms a little more, the female releases her eggs and the male releases his milt to fertilize them.
The shad population is not where wildlife officials would like to see it.
"The (shad) population has been low, but steady," Neilan said. "It's not what it used to be. It's at the bare minimum of where we want it to be. "
The good news is the river pollution in the Philadelphia and Trenton areas which depleted the oxygen supply is gone. The Delaware River, unlike other East Coast rivers, also doesn't have any dams or other impediments
The American shad can be found from Florida to New Foundland, according to Neilan, with the largest populations in the Virginia to Massachusetts area, Neilan said.
One record female shad weighed 9 pounds.
With darker, oily meat, many people find it to be an acquired taste. Shad roe, the eggs from the females, are especially prized.
The shad has long been a favorite in the Delaware Valley. In Lambertville one of the largest and oldest Shad Festivals anywhere is held each year.
Shad is prepared many ways -- broil, fried, baked. One of the most traditional ways of cooking shad is by securing the fileted fish to white oak planks with metal bands and placing the boards before an open fire.
This is how shad was cooked for decades at Salem County Club along the shores of the Delaware River in Elsinboro Township, before it closed.
Although he'd like to see more shad in the waters of the Delaware River, Neilan said the shad is doing well here compared to other East Coast rivers.
"The Delaware River probably has the strongest population of shad on the East Coast."
Bill Gallo Jr. may be reached at bgallo@njadvancemedia.com. Follow South Jersey Times on Twitter @TheSJTimes. Find NJ.com on Facebook.