Species profile
Threadfin Shad
Dorosoma petenense
At a glance
Threadfin Shad (Dorosoma petenense) is an IUCN Least Concern bony-fish species regulated in 6 of 66 jurisdictions tracked by CatchRules across the U.S. and Canada.
Confirmed by 972 research-grade iNaturalist observations, with Texas, South Carolina, and California the top jurisdictions by observation count.
Notable details
- Named for the slender, thread-like filament trailing from the last ray of its dorsal fin.
- Rarely exceeds 6 inches in length, considerably smaller than the related gizzard shad.
- Cannot survive water temperatures below about 45°F, making severe winters a regular cause of mass die-offs.
- Widely introduced into southern and western US reservoirs as a forage base for sport fish.
- Schools in tight formations of thousands, creating glittering silver masses visible from the surface.
Where Threadfin Shad are seen
Jurisdictions with rules for Threadfin Shad
Background
The threadfin shad is a small pelagic freshwater forage fish common in lakes, large streams and reservoirs of the Southeastern United States. Like the American gizzard shad, the threadfin shad has an elongated dorsal fin, but unlike the gizzard shad, its mouth is more terminal without a projecting upper jaw. The fins of threadfin shad often have a yellowish color, especially the caudal fin. The…
Background excerpt adapted from Wikipedia's Threadfin Shad article (CC BY-SA). Visit Wikipedia for the full entry.
Other bony fish on CatchRules
Photo credit: iNaturalist / Wikipedia. Identification reference only — verify regulations with the issuing wildlife agency before retaining a catch.