Species profile
Skipjack Herring
Alosa chrysochloris
Identify Skipjack Herring (Alosa chrysochloris) from a photo — free, unlimited, no sign-up — with the CatchRules iPhone app. Plus current fishing rules across 4 jurisdictions.
At a glance
Skipjack Herring (Alosa chrysochloris) is an IUCN Least Concern bony-fish species regulated in 4 of 66 jurisdictions tracked by CatchRules across the U.S. and Canada.
The strictest bag limit is 50 (Alabama); the most generous is 100 (Tennessee).
Confirmed by 239 research-grade iNaturalist observations, with Tennessee, Kentucky, and Alabama the top jurisdictions by observation count.
Notable details
- Gets its name from its habit of leaping and skipping across the water surface.
- One of the few herring-family species that lives primarily in large freshwater rivers.
- Found mainly in the Mississippi River basin and Gulf Coast river drainages.
- Can reach about 18 inches in length.
- Travels in dense schools and is a key prey item for catfish, gar, and striped bass.
Where Skipjack Herring are seen
Jurisdictions with rules for Skipjack Herring
Background
The skipjack shad (Alosa chrysochloris) is a North American, migratory, fresh- and brackish water fish species in the herring family Clupeidae. The name skipjack shad comes from the fact that it is commonly seen leaping out of the water while feeding. Other common names include blue herring, golden shad, river shad, Tennessee tarpon, and McKinley shad. The skipjack shad is restricted to the Gulf…
Background excerpt adapted from Wikipedia's Skipjack Herring article (CC BY-SA). Visit Wikipedia for the full entry.
Other bony fish on CatchRules
Frequently asked questions
What is Skipjack Herring?
Skipjack Herring (Alosa chrysochloris) is an IUCN Least Concern bony-fish species regulated in 4 of 66 jurisdictions tracked by CatchRules across the U.S. and Canada.
What is the scientific name for Skipjack Herring?
Skipjack Herring is Alosa chrysochloris.
Is Skipjack Herring regulated for fishing?
Yes — Skipjack Herring has fishing regulations in 4 U.S. states and/or Canadian provinces tracked by CatchRules. See the "Jurisdictions with rules" section above for the binding-source links.
How can I identify Skipjack Herring?
Take a photo with the free CatchRules iPhone app — on-device identification recognizes Skipjack Herring along with ~1,500 other species. No sign-up, unlimited use.
Photo credit: iNaturalist / Wikipedia. Identification reference only — verify regulations with the issuing wildlife agency before retaining a catch.