Hickory Shad are a true historic east coast sportsman’s fish.  Anything less than a tight creel limit in Virginia threatens the continuation of the species for generations.  It is now our generation’s turn to learn from the past lessons of overfishing to protect the Hickory Shad.  It is far better to keep a low creel limit and expand it then to start high, or no limit, and try to lower the limit.  Keep the limit low, matching that of trout, to protect the fish and the opportunity to fish for them.