Shad recipe???

Ya, I know almost everyone uses the shad they catch for bait, but has anyone tried to cook it before and had success?  I know some cultures eat them, so at least they are edible.  Also realize they are the largest members of the hearing family so that means lots of bones, but still want to try it out if anyone has had any success....  THANKS

On the East Coast, where shad originated, I know people like them smoked and for their roe. Disclaimer- I've got no personal experience.

Thanks, that is a start in the right direction.  I'll have to look up some smoking recipes.  I had to look up rowe in wikipedia, hmm I think i'll pass on that, but would it work as salmon bait?  Or some other type of fish?

There is a book out called "The Founding Fish" by John McPhee which talks about the importance of American shad to early american history and economics.

A fish nerd aside.. the American Shad's scientific name is Alosa sapidissima.  The sapidissima part, is mentioned in the book as meaning "most tasty" or "most savory".  I know that "sapid" does indeed mean "savory" but I'll have to trust author that the "issima" part means "most".  Anyway, I haven't tried them myself, but smoking does seem like the way to go for this bony and oily fish.

Brian

I have access to a large smoker (were talking fits a cow or two). I'm feeling adventurous guys, I think if I catch any I will smoke them.  I know better than to eat a bass or something that spends it's whole life in the Willamette, but aren't Shad migratory?  Do you guys think they are safe to eat?  I appreciate the responses, new to kayak fishing and plan to learn lots =)

Shad in the Willy should be safe to eat they are just like salmon  i.e. they are anadromous and spend much of their life in the ocean and come back into the rivers to spawn.

Excellent, then I plan on trying to land a Shad or two and smoke them and let you guys know how it turns out, haha, now only if I could remember that set-up with the jig my buddy showed me...  I'm such a newbie 

If you want to hook up and give it a try via kayak, let me know.  The massive flows going down the rivers pretty much sank my planned shad fishing excursions.  I would not be comfortable anchoring in the Willamette Right now, but Coon Island in Multnomah Channel may be another option (just watch for logs coming down river!) 

I wouldn't mind giving it a try off the bank.  I've heard of people catching them on fly tackle in the lower Sandy River... might be worth an exploratory trip there as well.

Ya, i think that would be fun!  I should know more about my schedule this weekend and next week a bit later tonight.  It would be beneficial to get some fishing tips while i'm out on the water.  I'll keep you posted, and if we bring in a few I can smoke them up, there is LOTS of space in my parents smokehouse (it's like the size of two outhouses side by side...)  I really just want to catch some fish, but if they are tasty smoked then I'm all about it! haha

Welcome to NWKA p_s_r. Here's a couple i found on the internet. I've never ate it, everyone always says it's catfood or crab bait...Anything's good smoked or when prepared right though..

http://www.nyseafood.org/recipes/shad/basic_broiled_shad.asp

http://hartford.about.com/od/shadrecipes/Shad_Recipes.htm

Here's a smoked shad recipe from ifish.net
http://ifish.net/board/showthread.php?t=116736

Wow that smoked recipe is for 10 of them! haha nice... I'm so excited to land some fish in my new yak =)

I'm sorry I forgot your parent's smoker is "the size of two outhouses side by side".  Maybe you should just multiply the recipe by 5 or so to fill it out a bit and bring some along to the next NWKA event for the rest of us to try.

Brian

Personally I think I need to try and fit a couple in my new smoker/grill.

LOL..haha... I'm sure we could get 50 of those things in there, that was a pretty classy description of the size huh?  haha, You know, if there is a big payload of shad, then i have no problem smoking them all up and bringing them for the group.  Would need some help filleting 50 fish though! haha