Allis shad
Alosa alosa
Allis shad (Alosa alosa) is a saltwater fish found in UK waters. At sea for most of its life, running into a small number of rivers to spawn. Extremely localised in the UK. It is listed as protected, so return it — and check the current law before you fish.
- Max length
- 70 cm
- Max weight
- 4 kg
- Water
- Saltwater
- How often
- Rare
Updated
Protected species
Do not target. Return any accidental capture immediately, in the water where possible.
Source pending human verification — check the current law before you fish.
What it looks like
A deep, strongly compressed herring-like fish with a bright silver flank, a blue-green back and a single dark shoulder spot behind the gill cover. The belly carries a keel of sharp scutes you can feel with a thumb.
Allis shad are one of the UK’s most threatened fish. Populations collapsed as weirs and dams cut them off from spawning gravels, and the species is legally protected.
If you hook one
Bait
Not a target species — protected by law.
Rig
Not applicable. If you hook one accidentally, return it immediately and with care.
When
Accidental captures happen during spring runs on a few southwestern rivers.
Where
Lower reaches of a handful of rivers. Do not target them.
Season: Spring spawning runs. Fishing for them is restricted.
Easy to confuse with
Questions anglers ask
- Is it legal to fish for allis shad in the UK?
- No. Allis shad are protected and must not be targeted. Any accidental capture must be returned immediately and handled as little as possible.
- How do I tell allis shad from twaite shad?
- Spot count is the usual field guide: allis shad normally show a single shoulder spot, twaite shad a row along the flank. Gill raker counts are the reliable method, but that means handling a protected fish — so don't.
