It's Shad Season!

Just got the word from Atlantic Seafood Market in Old Saybrook, CT and it's time!

Shad season has started. And there's nothing more New Englandy than shad and shad roe. Some people love the delicate but sometimes oily taste of the Connecticut River's seasonal native. Others? Not so much. But sometimes even they eat it because that's what people in New England do in late April, May, and June. The arrival of shad, and shad roe, is a traditional harbinger of spring in this part of the world. 

According to the Connecticut River Coordinator's Office: "American shad return to the Connecticut River usually starting sometime in late April. The run continues through June. Once the river warms up, movement stops and the shad spawn. That's the end of the fishing season for these fish ... American shad are an exciting fish for anglers. They're big, they fight hard, and, in the Connecticut River, you can fill your creel pretty quickly. The Connecticut River record shad was 11 lbs 4 oz, which is also the world record! The best places to fish for shad are at the mouths of rivers including the Farmington, Chicopee, or Westfield, and below dams, such as the Enfield, Holyoke, Vernon, and Bellows Falls Dams."

If you'd rather go fish at your local fish market, check out Atlantic Seafood Market, at 1400 Boston Post Road, Old Saybrook, CT.  They ask that you please call or email before visiting to reserve your order of shad.  "Shad is on a daily limited supply and is affected by the weather. So please call or email ahead. The phone number is 860-388-4527 and the email is Atlanticseafoodmarket@gmail.com. 

They add: "If you are planning a Shad Bake or a weekend bbq with shad, keep in mind the fisherman can't fish from sundown Friday to sundown Sunday. This is to ensure enough Shad make it up to the spawning grounds.  So plan ahead."

The information from Atlantic Seafood Market did not say whether they have shad roe, but we have a call in to check on that. 

Here's the email Atlantic First Market in Old Saybrook sent about the shad, complete with recipe: 


Shad, Shad, Shad. Other than saying it's here, need I say more? 

This years Shad recipe is brought to you by Mr. & Mrs. Irving Goldman.

Baked Shad with Creamed Roe

Place shad filets (2) in glass baking dish, skin down.  Sprinkle with salt and pepper.  Brush with melted butter.  Bake at 400 F for 20 minutes.  Remove from oven.

Spread creamed roe over the fish and return to oven to brown (five minutes).

Creamed Roe

Cover roe (2 sacs) with boiling water (adding 3 Tbs lemon juice and 3 tsp salt).  Simmer 20 minutes and drain.  Put roe in ice water for 10 minutes.  Drain again.  Mash with fork.  Melt 4Tbs butter and add1/4 cup finely chopped shallots or scallions.  Add roe.  Cook 1 minute.  Add 2 Tbs flour.  Stir in 1/2 cup heavy cream.  Cook 10 minutes.  Season with fresh pepper, lemon juice and finely chopped parsley.

Bon appetite!  Irv Goldman.

Thank you to Mr Goldman and his wife Mrs. Goldman.

This looks like a good one.