Boating & Fishing Insider

Capt. Willy Le displays a fat, St. Johns River shad, caught this week. Credit: W. Le Photos

Shad fever has spread across Central Florida like wildfire, and Capt. Willy Le might have an incurable case of it. He's given it to me. Thanks to these photos and article about a recent shad-fishing trip up the St. Johns River, I don't think I'll be able to get anything done until I catch a few myself this season.

The American shad enjoys a small, obsessive cult following. If you love light-tackle fishing with fly rods (four- to six-weights) and light spinning rods, come see why the obsession with shad.

They slam bright-colored flies such as the Gotcha as well as the popular jigs known as "shad darts." These fish fight doggedly and acrobatically, much like small tarpon. They get into the current and put a light fly rod or spinner to the test.

But there's more to it than that. For many anglers, fishing for shad is a way to take part in one of nature's most epic migrations. These fish are running south – upriver in the north-flowing St. Johns – to spawn after an incredible ocean migration. American shad migrate from Florida all the way to Canada's Bay of Fundy and back, following the water temperatures that they prefer. It takes four years of feeding in the open ocean for shad to mature and get ready to run upriver to spawn. You'll find that anglers treat the shad they catch with great reverence and respect, considering what this fish's arduous life history entails.

The best shad fishing in the state takes place in the St. Johns River, and typically begins in late December and lasts through March. The fish are running strong right now, so if you're visiting the Orlando or Space Coast area in the next few weeks, you should call Capt. Willy, or St. Johns shad expert Capt. Tom Van Horn. The Fly Fisherman shop in Titusville, or Orlando Outfiiters also offer a wealth of knowledge to share if want to chase shad on your own.

Most of the spawning takes place in "Shad Alley," the stretch of river from Lake Monroe down to Highway 50.