Shad Stocking in North Carolina
Wild-caught threadfin and gizzard shad, harvested by the Shad Man and delivered live to ponds and lakes across North Carolina. Build a real open-water forage base and grow bigger bass, crappie, and stripers.
Why North Carolina pond owners stock shad
Bluegill alone can only feed your bass so far. Shad fill the open water — the part of your North Carolinapond that bottom- and structure-oriented forage never reaches — and convert plankton straight into fast bass growth. It’s the difference between a pond that holds fish and one that grows trophies.
Shad are open-water schooling fish, so they feed your bass in areas bluegill never reach — adding a whole new layer of forage to the pond.
Threadfin filter-feed on plankton their entire lives, converting your pond's microscopic productivity straight into high-protein bait.
Fisheries research reports improved growth rates for bass of all sizes once shad are added — not just the biggest fish.
Threadfin rarely top 6 inches, so even a one-pound bass can eat them. Forage stays available to small and trophy fish alike.
Stocking shad in the North Carolina climate
North Carolina’s milder climate is well suited to threadfin shad, which can often sustain themselves year to year in warmer Southern water. Spring — just before the shad spawn — is the ideal time to stock so the population builds through summer.
Shad we deliver in North Carolina
Threadfin Shad
The go-to forage for the majority of ponds. Filter-feeders that stay bite-size their whole life, so bass of every size can eat them and they rarely overpopulate.
Gizzard Shad
A larger, hardy shad for ponds that already hold big predators. Cold-tolerant and long-lived, it delivers the large meals trophy fish need — but should only go in waters with bass big enough to keep it in check.
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Stock your North Carolina pond with live shad
Spots fill up by season. Text to get on the list and we'll set you up with the right shad, a quote, and a delivery plan.