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BASIC INFORMATION:
River sampled:
Cape Fear River
Fisheries Biologists conducting sampling:
Michael Fisk
Justin Dycus
Thad Watkins
Date of sample:
May 11, 2015
May 12, 2015
Area(s) of river sampled, and water temps:
Lock and Dam 1 (Rock Arch Ramp) 70 F
Lock and Dam 2 70 F
Lock and Dam 3 70 F
Buckhorn Dam 74 F
Boat ramp(s) used to access river:
Lock and Dam 1 (Rock Arch Ramp)
Lock and Dam 2
Lock and Dam 3
Buckhorn Dam Canoe Launch
Species (spp) information:
· Spp. captured:
American Shad
Striped Bass
· Numbers by spp:
American Shad = 221
Striped Bass = 18
· Size range by spp:
Males 13-21 in
Females 17-22 in
Males 15 -28 in
Females 19-26 in
· Max size for spp:
American Shad 22 in, 6.8 lbs
Striped Bass 28 in, 8.4 lbs
· Sex ratio by spp:
Females = 97
Males = 124
Juveniles = 4
Males = 9
Females = 6
· Were the fish tagged?
Striped Bass were tagged with external anchor tags and internal PIT tags. There are rewards up to $100 for the submission of the anchor tags. If anglers encounter a striped bass with an external tagged striped bass, cut the tag before releasing the Striped Bass and either call NC Division of Marine Fisheries at 1-800-682-2632 or online at http://portal.ncdenr.org/web/mf/report-tag-online to report the tag for a reward.
ADDITIONAL OBSERVATIONS:
River level and other water quality observations (turbity, etc.):
The river was around 1,800-2,000 cfs at all three Lock and Dams and 800 cfs at Buckhorn Dam while sampling this week. Water clarity was typical for the Cape Fear River.
Weather conditions on sampling date?
Sunny, low 80s
Your observations of other people fishing on the river:
Angler activity at Lock and Dams continues for American Shad. Anglers fishing for Striped Bass at Lock and Dam 3. A few anglers were fly fishing for Largemouth Bass at Buckhorn Dam.
Comments to anglers about your sampling results, and fishing-related conclusions that can be drawn from your data:
Abundance of American Shad continues to be thick in the Cape Fear River with many American shad still being sought by anglers at all 3 Lock and Dams. American shad spawning activity was observed at Lock and Dam 2 during an anadromous egg sampling project on Wednesday evening, May 13.
Cape Fear River Creel Survey Update
American Shad were being caught primarily at Lock and Dams 2 and little activity at Lock and Dam 3 as reported to the creel clerk during this week’s creel survey.
Doug Mumford from NCDMF shares creel survey information collected from different stretches along the Tar/Pamlico River, Neuse River and Cape Fear River. The DMF creel surveys are funded via through Coastal Recreational Fishing License funding, and the N.C. Wildlife Resources Commission assists with design and data analysis for annual compliance reports.
NCWRC Fisheries biologist Justin Dycus holding an American Shad collected near the Rock Arch Ramp on the Cape Fear River on March 18, 2015.