|
|
Post by reelbargains on Oct 23, 2011 16:03:07 GMT
Allis Shad    I believe that if it doesn't have a row of spots along the back then it's an Allis Shad. If it does have a row of spots, it could be a Twaite Shad or a juvenille Allis Shad. Both members of the Herring family. |
|
|
|
Post by freeliner on Nov 27, 2011 12:02:25 GMT
Hi reelbargains - please forgive me if this repeats a previous post, but here goes anyway.
Whenever I've caught Shad from Portsmouth Harbour in the past, all the ones I could positively ID were Twaite Shad - some had the spots and some didn't.
The only reliable ID is the number of gill rakers, but this is difficult to do safely with these rather delicate fish before returning them as per the conservation regulations in force now.
As a thumbnail guide, Allis Shad have very fine gill rakers, while the ones on Twaite Shad are less numerous and more like the fine teeth of a comb. I can dig out the exact details if you're interested.
The funny thing is that most UK anglers who catch a Shad ID it as the much rarer Allis, but the more common Twaites don't go so big so are in fact better specimens....
|
|
