I gotcha. The Hickory and American Shad are way different (and bigger!) than the bait fish you're thinking about. In colonial days their spawning runs were legendary and they were major food sources for native Americans and colonial settlers. They fight and jump like you wouldn't believe and are often referred to as mini-tarpon. As for eating, they're very boney, but the roe is considered a delicacy. When I was a kid I remember the old folks mixing it in with their scrambled eggs. Of course, they did the same thing with pigs brains...