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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 24, 2016
Area(s) of river sampled, and water temps:
53-54F 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
11 Hickory Shad
· Size range by spp:
American Shad ranged in size from 16 to 21 inches
Striped Bass ranged in size from 22 to 24 inches
Hickory shad were ~16 inches
· Max size for spp:
American shad – 20 inches and weighed 2.6 pounds
· Sex ratio by spp:
10 female, 12 male American Shad
ADDITIONAL OBSERVATIONS:
River level and other water quality observations (turbity, etc.):
River flows were 10,000 cfs. Water clarity was stained, yet clearer than last week.
Weather conditions on sampling date?
73F, clear skies, wind 0-5 mph
Your observations of other people fishing on the river:
3 boating parties fishing the area; 2 downstream of the Hwy 48 bridge and one upstream of the bridge.
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.
Warming water temperatures and steady flows should drive American Shad up the river and should be congregating near the Gaston Boating Access Area during this spawning migration period.
Roanoke River Creel Survey Information:
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 numerous hickory shad from the bank as well as by boating anglers. Clerks interviewed boat anglers that had lost count of the number of hickory shad caught during their outing, with some anglers reporting 150 to 200 hickory shad caught during a 3-4 hour fishing trip. No striped bass were reported harvested around Weldon, although a couple were caught up around the Gaston Boating Access Area on the Roanoke River. Anglers are also fishing for shad at the Scotland Neck Boating Access Area.
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 Area at Jamesville-Astoria Landing. Creel clerk interviewed 26 boating parties with 39 striped bass weighing a total of 116 pounds. 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.
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.
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.
Fisheries Biologist Chris Smith holding a female striped bass collected on the Roanoke River near Gaston Boating Access Area on Thursday, March 24, 2016. Photo Credit: Katy Potoka