Shad fishing is excellent in the Pacific Northwest, where these eager biters and hard fighters come into select rivers by the millions.American shad are a giant relative of the herring first introduced to the Pacific from the East Coast in the late 1800s. These silvery sport fish soon established spring spawning runs into rivers in Oregon, Washington and California.
Spot shrimp are most common in Hood Canal, the San Juan Islands, and northern and central Puget Sound.
The Pacific razor clam is an exceptionally meaty shellfish, with a narrow, oblong shell. In Washington, these clams can grow to a length of three to six inches. Clams seven inches long have been recorded, but are very rare. The life expectancy for Washington clams is five years. In contrast, razor clams found in Alaska may grow to 11 inches in length and live to be 15 years old, due to colder water temperatures and slower growth rates.