This website is a testing environment only. The contents of this site are not refreshed regularly and should not be relied upon.
For up-to-date information on North Carolina licenses, regulations and other wildlife resources, please visit the agency’s website NCWildlife.org.
BASIC INFO:
Roanoke River
Fisheries Biologists conducting sampling:
Katy Potoka, Chris Smith, and Jeremy McCargo – NCWRC Fisheries Biologists
Barry Midgette, Matt Turpin – NCWRC Watha State Fish Hatchery Technicians
Jonathan Perry, Derek Stany – Jordan Depot Technicians
Bernie Jeffries, Tucker Hobbs – Weldon Depot Technicians
John Ellis – US Fish and Wildlife Service
Kara Carlson – NC Museum of Natural Sciences
Date of sample:
March 29 and 30, 2016
Area(s) of river sampled, and water temps:
55F 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:
200 American Shad
20 Hickory Shad
· Size range by spp:
American Shad ranged in size from 16 to 21 inches
Hickory shad were ~16 inches
· Max size for spp:
None weighed
· Sex ratio by spp:
100 female, 100 male American Shad
ADDITIONAL OBSERVATIONS:
River level and other water quality observations (turbidity, etc.):
River flows were 9,500 cfs. Water clarity was similar to last week, stained slightly muddy.
Weather conditions on sampling date?
65F, clear skies, wind 0-5 mph
Your observations of other people fishing on the river:
4 boating parties fishing the area; 1 downstream of the Hwy 48 bridge and 3 upstream of the bridge.
Comments to anglers about your sampling results, and fishing-related conclusions that can be drawn from your data:
American Shad were mostly around the Highway 48 bridge, and along the downstream shorelines, few fish were caught below the paper mill road bridge.
American Shad were collected for Hatchery propagation at Watha State Fish Hatchery; The hatchery goal of 200 fish (100 male and 100 females) was met in two collection days. Another broodfish collection will occur next week for production at Edenton National Fish Hatchery. American shad fry produced in 2016 will be stocked above Roanoke Rapids Dam and at Weldon to evaluate downstream passage as a part of the Roanoke River American Shad restoration project.
The warming water temperatures and steady flows should continue to drive American Shad up the river to their spawning grounds, congregating near the Gaston Boating Access Area.
Inland Fisheries staff will continue to survey American Shad weekly near the Gaston BAA.
Roanoke River Creel Survey Information: (March 25 - 31, 2016)
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 continued to observed anglers catching hickory shad from the bank and from the boat. Numbers of hickory shad caught was lower than last week; angler responses to number of hickory shad caught ranged from 10 to 100 fish caught in an outing. No striped bass were reported harvested around Weldon.
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 observed angling effort and harvest of striped bass in the lower Roanoke River from our NCWRC Boating Access Areas at Highway 45, Jamesville-Astoria Landing, and Williamston. Anglers were using both artificial and cut bait to catch striped bass in good numbers with striped bass harvested between 20 and 22 inches with an average weight around 3.5 pounds. Anglers also caught numerous white perch in the Jamesville area.
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.
Single Barbless Hook regulation – NOW in effect
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.
NCWRC Fisheries Biologist Chris Smith holds an American shad captured during broodfish collections on the Roanoke River near the Gaston Boating Access Area on March 24, 2016.