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BASIC INFO:

River sampled:

Roanoke River

 

Fisheries Biologists conducting sampling:

Jeremy McCargo, Katy Potoka and Bernie Jeffries

 

Date of sample:

Hickory Shad at Weldon: April 8, 2014

American Shad at Gaston: April 10, 2014

 

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

Weldon: Mush Island to Troublefield Gut: 54oF

Gaston: Hwy 48 bridge to Powerlines near Gaston BAA: 51oF

 

Boat ramp(s) used to access river:

Weldon BAA and Gaston BAA

 

Species (spp) information:

·         Spp. captured:

Hickory Shad and American Shad

 

·         Numbers by spp:

211 Hickory Shad in 45 minutes of electrofishing (4 sites)

123 American Shad in 1 hour of electrofishing (9 sites)

 

·         Size range by spp:

Hickory Shad – 11-18 inches

American shad – 14-22 inches

 

·         Max size for spp:

Hickory Shad: 467 mm (18.4 inches) female

American Shad: 551 mm (21.7 inches), 1.7kg (3.7 lb) female

 

·         Sex ratio by spp:

Hickory Shad: 143 males and 68 females ≈ 2:1 male to female ratio

American Shad: 56 males and 67 females ≈ 1:1 male to female ratio

 

·         Were the fish tagged?

American Shad were fin clipped for genetic analysis to evaluate stocking contribution of previous cohorts to the current spawning population

 

ADDITIONAL OBSERVATIONS:

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

 

Moderate flows at approx. 13,700 cfs

 

Weather conditions on sampling date?

 

Sunny, windy and warm

 

Your observations of other people fishing on the river:

 

A few boat anglers were fishing for striped bass and American shad. A few bank fishermen were bottom fishing and fishing for American Shad.

 

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

 

Hickory shad were very abundant at Weldon this week, and we collected hickory shad everywhere we sampled. High flows may have caused tough fishing conditions, but there were numerous hickories to be caught. Water temperatures have remained cool this spring, but hickory shad will soon complete their spawning run and exit the river as the temperature continues to rise. We did not target striped bass at Weldon this week, but we did electrofish a dozen or so during our hickory shad sample. American shad continue to be abundant on the spawning grounds near the Gaston Boating Access Area. On Thursday and Friday of last week and Tuesday of this week, we were able to collect 400 broodstock for the Commission’s American shad restoration program on the Roanoke River. The fish were transported to Watha State Fish Hatchery where they will spawn and produce fry for stocking back into the Roanoke River basin. Many thanks to all the staff and cooperators who assisted with the collections!

 

Roanoke River Creel Survey Information: April 6 – April 13:

 

Roanoke River Creel Clerks observed many anglers fishing for hickory shad near the Weldon boating access area during the last week, although striped bass continue to be caught and harvested throughout the Roanoke River. Clerks observed a general trend of angling effort shifting upstream of Jamesville during this creel period. Anglers were catching striped bass at Hwy 45, Jamesville, Williamston, Hamilton, Scotland Neck and Weldon BAA throughout this week.  Striped bass should continue to ascend the Roanoke on their spawning migration this week and may provide anglers with a good chance to catch striped bass at any access point along the Roanoke River, from boat or public fishing areas available at certain locations.

 


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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.

Conservation Technician Bernie Jeffries holds a female American shad collected from the Roanoke River during weekly electrofishing sampling to survey the fish population.