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BASIC INFO:
River sampled:
Roanoke River
Fisheries Biologists conducting sampling:
Jeremy McCargo and Katy Potoka
Date of sample:
April 17, 2014-American Shad
April 21, 2014-Striped Bass
Area(s) of river sampled, and water temps:
American Shad-Hwy. 48 bridge to powerlines -
Striped Bass-Around Weldon from the Gap to Troublefield Gut – 55-56F
Boat ramp(s) used to access river:
American Shad-Gaston BAA
Striped Bass-Weldon BAA
American Shad 4/l7: Species (spp) information:
· Spp. captured:
American Shad
· Numbers by spp:
153 American Shad
· Size range by spp:
Males: 13-20 inches
Females: 18-22 inches
· Max size for spp:
Female: 22 inches, 3.7 pounds
· Sex ratio by spp:
82 males, 71 females
· Were the fish tagged?
No
Striped Bass 4/21: Species (spp) information:
Striped Bass
287 Striped Bass
Males: 12-27 inches
Females: 16-37 inches
Female: 37 inches, 30 pounds
274 males, 12 females, 1 unknown
283 fish were tagged by DMF staff with yellow internal anchor tags
ADDITIONAL OBSERVATIONS:
River level and other water quality observations (turbity, etc.):
High flows at approx. 20000 cfs 4/17
~15600 cfs 4/21
Weather conditions on sampling date?
Sunny, windy and warm
Your observations of other people fishing on the river:5
Fishing activity at Weldon has picked up over the week. On Monday, there were quite a few boats fishing for striped bass. We saw them catching stripers and reports were that fishing was good but most fish were small.
Comments to anglers about your sampling results, and fishing-related conclusions that can be drawn from your data:
Striped bass continued to arrive on the spawning grounds. Our catch rate increased from last week but high flows made it difficult to electrofish effectively. The majority of our catch was small males, and we collected one large female striper that weighed nearly 30 pounds. Flows were projected to recede later in the week and water temperatures may be influenced by the projected change and ambient weather conditions. We’ll continue to monitor the anticipated progression of striped bass on the spawning grounds in the coming weeks.
American shad remained on the spawning grounds last week. Our catch was similar to our previous sample. We did notice a few female American shad that had been spawning. We will be sampling American shad again on Thursday, April 24.
Roanoke River Creel Survey Information: April 14 to April 20
Striped bass continued to be caught throughout the river, although there was an apparent shift in striped bass catch from the lower Roanoke River to the upper Roanoke during this creel period. Anglers intercepted during the creel survey that caught striped bass indicated they released numerous small striped bass with some catches exceeding 100 small striped bass, yet many anglers were also able to harvest some 18-22 inch striped bass.. A few striped bass from the 22-to 27-inch protective slot range were also caught and released this period. While striped bass fishing appeared to be gaining momentum, hickory shad fishing tapered off although a good number of hickory shad remained in the upper Roanoke and some anglers continued to target these fish with good success.
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.
Patrick Railey, a creel clerk on the Roanoke River, displays one of many striped bass measured and weighed over the course of the Roanoke River Creel Survey.