Gizzard Shad life cycle ??

[Mark B.]

The schools that I've seen are juvenile American Shad.

I’ve rarely encountered schools of juvenile Gizzard Shad.

I believe the reason is that they grow very fast, as they can consume both animal & plant material, due to their bird-like gizzard.

As you know they get quite large. Consequently, only large predator fish can handle them. The reason NJDF&W stocks Mercer Lake, Deal Lake,……with Esocids.