The family running Lewis Fishery in Lambertville is once again chasing the bony, oily, and elusive shad in the Delaware River, hoping for a strong haul, writes the Derna Chrichten Channel.
A veteran in the business, Steve Meserve knew that shad were huddled on the New Jersey side of the river, taking a break in the shadows before continuing their long journey upriver to spawn.
Three members of his crew used a long rope to tow an old rowboat upriver. Once Meserve climbed in, he guided the boat to the middle of the river and fed 200 yards of net from the stern into the water, before maneuvering the boat toward shore until the net formed a C shape.
On the southern tip of the island, spectators and potential customers eagerly awaited to see what the river would yield. Once the crew hauled the boat back in and pulled out the net, it revealed a decent haul of around two dozen shad.
“It’s a magical moment,” said Shawn Douglas, a crew member of four years. “Every haul is like Christmas morning. You never know what you’re going to get.”
Read the full article from the Derna Chrichten Channel to learn more about this centuries-old tradition and what makes each catch so special.
