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BASIC INFO:
River sampled:
Cape Fear River
Fisheries Biologists conducting sampling:
Michael Fisk
Justin Dycus
Date of sample:
March 25, 26, 27
Area(s) of river sampled, and water temps:
Rock Arch Ramp (Lock and Dam 1)
Lock and Dam 2
Lock and Dam 3
Above Lock and Dam 3
48-49 degrees
Boat ramp(s) used to access river:
Lock and Dam 1
Lillington BAA
Fayetteville BAA
Species (spp) information:
· Spp. captured:
American Shad
Hickory Shad
· Numbers by spp:
American Shad = 55
Hickory Shad = 2
· Size range by spp:
American Shad 14 in –21 in
Hickory Shad 13 in –14 in
· Max size for spp:
American Shad 21 in, 3.9 lbs Female
Hickory Shad 14 in, 13 oz Male
· Sex ratio by spp:
American shad
Females = 15 Males = 40
· Were the fish tagged?
No fish were tagged
ADDITIONAL OBSERVATIONS:
River level and other water quality observations (turbity, etc.):
The Cape Fear River has dropped throughout the week with flows dependent upon rainfall in the watershed.
Weather conditions on sampling date?
40’s and 50’s
Your observations of other people fishing on the river:
A few shad are being caught at the Rock Arch Ramp. No observations of anglers catching any fish at lock and dams 2 and 3.
Comments to anglers about your sampling results, and fishing-related conclusions that can be drawn from your data:
American shad are making their way up the river. We have collected fish upstream of all three lock and dams now including upstream of Fayetteville around the town of Erwin.
Creel survey information:
Creel clerk reported some American shad caught at Lock and Dam 1 as well as one female American shad harvested at Lock and Dam 3. Fishing has been relatively slow given the cool weather and high flows, especially with limited access at the lock and dams when closed due to the high flows.
Justin Dycus with a hickory shad from downstream of the Rock Arch Ramp.