Wildlife of the James - Migratory Fish in the James River

By Gabe Silver, JRA Education and Outreach Manager

As a fisherman, it is impossible to live near the falls of the James River and not feel fish in your blood this time of year. In spring, the warming water temperature in the James triggers legendary runs of migratory fish coming up the river both to spawn and to eat the spawners. The numerous herring, shad, and rockfish in the river draw another species to the river in droves- Homo sapiens “piscavore”- our beloved fishermen, known for their absence from family life this time of year.  The boat ramps and banks are crowded but there are enough fish for everyone, as long as everyone obeys catch limits and other wildlife laws.

The species of fish most sought after this time of year in the James are these:

1. American shad - a protected species that was once a mainstay in the American diet and has been decimated by dams and overharvest. A strong fighter up to 5 lbs.

2. White Perch -This small cousin of the rockfish (striped bass) is thought by some to be the best eating fish you can catch. With a stringer full, you’ve got dinner.

3. Rockfish - the striped bass is a voracious predator that can grow to over 50 lbs and is famous in restaurants and in fishing ports.

4. Hickory shad - these more numerous and smaller cousins of the American shad can be harvested in tidal waters under current regulations and are also tenacious fighters.

All of these fish have something in common. They are anadromous fish, meaning they live in saltwater but then come to the James to spawn, have fascinating adaptations that allow them to move between saltwater and freshwater throughout their life cycle. The difference of these environments is extreme; it would be something akin to a human being able to survive naked in Antarctica and Death Valley all in the same month. These amazing fish have been a boon to humans living on the banks of the James for thousands of years, and today they still are.

Learn More:


Shad Cam at Bosher’s Dam Fish Passage

Wildlife of the James Article about the American Shad