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BASIC INFO:

River sampled:

Roanoke River

 

Fisheries Biologists conducting sampling:

Katy Potoka and Chris Smith – NCWRC District 1 Fisheries Biologists

Issac Bowman – NCWRC Tillery Depot Technician

 

Date of sample:

March 17, 2016

 

Area(s) of river sampled, and water temps:

 

52F near the Gaston Boating Access Area at the Hwy 48 bridge

 

Boat ramp(s) used to access river:

 

Gaston Boating Access Area

 

Species (spp) information:

Species and number captured:

 

22 American Shad
3 Striped Bass
1 Hickory Shad

 

Size range by spp:

 

American Shad ranged in size from 16 to 21 inches

Striped Bass ranged in size from 12 to 24 inches

Hickory shad was 14 inches

 

Max size for spp:

American shad weighed 3.7 pounds

 

Sex ratio by spp:

 

8 female, 14 male American Shad

 

 

ADDITIONAL OBSERVATIONS:

River level and other water quality observations (turbity, etc.):

 

River flows were 10,000 cfs. Water clarity was somewhat murky, although clearer than the prior week.

 

Weather conditions on sampling date?

 

73F, clear skies, wind 0-5 mph

 

Your observations of other people fishing on the river:

 

3 anglers fishing from the bank, no boats out

 

Comments to anglers about your sampling results, and fishing-related conclusions that can be drawn from your data:

 

Most of the American shad were around the Highway 48 bridge, few shad along the downstream shorelines, and no shad downstream by the power lines.

 

2016 Roanoke River Creel Survey Information: March 11 – March 17

 

Kevin Dockendorf, Coastal Fisheries Research Coordinator of the N.C. Wildlife Resources Commission (NCWRC), will share some creel survey information collected from different stretches along the Roanoke River during March, April, and May this season. The Roanoke River Creel Survey is designed and administered by the NCWRC through Federal Aid in Sport Fish Restoration funding to estimate angler effort, catch, and harvest of Striped Bass in the Roanoke River Management Area (RRMA).

 

Upper River: WRC Boating Access Areas (BAA) near Gaston, Weldon, Scotland Neck

 

Fishing Activity: In the upper Roanoke at Weldon, our creel clerks observed anglers catching hickory shad from the bank as well as by boating anglers. Water temperatures were on the rise as measured on the USGS-Halifax gage downstream of Weldon and flow rates declined from the past week based on the USGS-Roanoke Rapids gage.

 

For reference, links to the websites of the USGS gages and projected flow releases are available in the Roanoke River Water Conditions pod located on the right side of this webpage.

 

Lower River: WRC BAAs near Lewiston, Hamilton, Williamston, Jamesville, Plymouth

 

Fishing Activity: Our creel clerks continued to observe angling effort and harvest of striped bass in the lower Roanoke River from our NCWRC Boating Access Areas at Jamesville-Astoria Landing and Hwy 45 access area near Plymouth. Anglers were using both artificial and cut bait to catch striped bass in good numbers with striped bass harvested between 18 and 22 inches with an average weight around 3 pounds. Creel clerks interviewed anglers at the San Souci Boating Access Area on the Cashie River that caught blue catfish and white perch in good numbers. Clerks also heard reports of white perch being caught on the upper Chowan River around Winton.

Shad and Striped Bass Regulations for Roanoke River

 

The daily bag limit is 10 shad per angler, of which only one may be an American (white) shad on the Roanoke River and its tributaries.

 

The daily creel limit for Striped Bass is two fish per angler and the minimum size limit is 18 inches in total length. No fish between 22 inches and 27 inches in total length shall be retained in the daily creel limit. Only one fish larger than 27 inches in total length may be retained in the daily creel limit.



   
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Click here to view map.
Note: This map is to be used for general informational purposes only and not for navigation of the Roanoke River. Rocks, logs, and other hazards are likely to be encountered anywhere in this area.
 


Click here to view map.
Note: This map of the Roanoke River Boating Access Areas is to be used for general informational purposes only.

Striped bass on a measuring board to determine total length of each striped bass harvested in the lower region during the Roanoke River Creel Survey. To measure total length, close the fish mouth, place fish on a measuring board with the fish mouth up against a bumper, squeeze the tips of the tail, and find its total length.