Virginia has five tributaries that support Hickory shad spawning.  Currently Hickory Shad Catch Per Unit of Effort (CPUE) from DWR Electroshocking data in 2020 only the Rappahannock River of the five tributaries is currently slightly above average CPUE.  The other tributaries are well below average CPUE and two tributaries have zero CPUE.  One tributary has no CPUE data or was not Electroshocked.  The Hickory Shad biomass in Virginia tributaries has not been determined.

Observation:  I generally fished the entire Hickory shad spring spawning run every year and on multiple times each week and on multiple occasions observed huge coolers of Hickory shad removed from the Rappahannock river.  I am concerned that Hickory shad are being over harvested.

No game fish should have no creel limits.  If VMRC does not know how many Hickory shad are being removed from the fishery it is urgent to set Hickory shad creel limits.

As you know over harvesting Hickory shad creel combined with bad spawns can deplete a fishery.

Recommendation:  Establish Hickory shad creel limits.