Gizzard Shad for Sale
Best for established trophy fisheriesGizzard shad are the specialist's forage — a larger, hardier shad built for trophy fisheries. They grow big, tolerate cold and a wide range of water, and provide the high-calorie meals that trophy bass, stripers, and catfish need to keep gaining weight. The catch: they should only go in ponds that already hold predators big enough to eat and control them.
- Adult size
- 6–7 in, often 12 in+
- Cold tolerance
- Very hardy
- Feeds
- Plankton, then detritus
- Overpopulation risk
- Higher — needs big bass
Big meals for big predators
Gizzard shad grow quickly and often exceed 12 inches in fertile water. That size is exactly what trophy-class bass, stripers, and big catfish want — large, calorie-dense forage that keeps them putting on weight instead of burning energy chasing tiny bait.
Only for the right pond
Because they get large, gizzard shad can outgrow the mouths of average bass and take over a pond's biomass. We recommend them only for waters that already hold a strong population of large predators (bass over roughly 16–18 inches) that can keep them in check.
Hardy and cold-tolerant
Unlike threadfin, gizzard shad are very cold-hardy and rarely winterkill, so an established population usually persists year after year without restocking.
All our shad are wild-caught and hauled live in aerated, temperature-controlled tanks. Not sure gizzard shad is the right fit? Tell us about your pond and we’ll steer you right.
Ready to stock gizzard 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.