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BASIC INFORMATION:

River sampled:

Cape Fear 

Fisheries Biologists conducting sampling:

Michael Fisk

Clint Morgeson

Madison Polera 

Date of sample:

4/26/2016

4/27/2016 

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

Lock and Dam 1      

Lock and Dam 2

Lock and Dam 3

Lillington

Buckhorn Dam

68-69 F 

 

Boat ramp(s) used to access river:

Lock and Dam 1      

Lock and Dam 2

Lock and Dam 3

Howard’s BBQ in Lillington

Buckhorn tailrace primitive boat launch 

 

Species (spp) information:

 

·        Numbers by spp:

American Shad         225

Striped Bass             32

 

·        Size range by spp:

American Shad         14-21 in

Striped Bass             17-32 in

 

·        Max size for spp:

American Shad         21 in, 4.3 lbs

Striped Bass             23 in, 15 lbs

 

·        Sex ratio by spp:

American Shad         M:F     2.2:1

Striped Bass             M:F     2.3:1

 

·        Were the fish tagged?

Striped Bass were fin clipped for genetic analysis as part of an ongoing project to evaluate Striped Bass hatchery contribution in the Cape Fear River.

  

ADDITIONAL OBSERVATIONS:

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

The gage at Lock and Dam 1 was around 3,200 cfs on 4/26. On 4/27 the gage in Lillington was around 1,900 cfs. The river was relatively clear this week.

 

Weather conditions on sampling date?

Sunny, 80’s

 

Your observations of other people fishing on the river:

Anglers were observed catching American Shad at all three lock and dams. Reports of anglers catching Striped Bass at Lock and Dam 1. 

 

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

Catch rates for American Shad were highest for Lock and Dam 3, followed by Lock and Dam 2, Lock and Dam 1, Lillington, then Buckhorn. Some of the female shad collected are showing signs of being “spawned out”, especially at Lock and Dam 2. The Striped Bass showed up in appreciable numbers in our collections for the first time this spring. All but 3 of the Striped Bass were collected at Lock and Dam 1 this week. There was a lot of spawning activity taking place at all 3 lock and dams at dusk this week as well.


2016 Cape Fear River Creel Survey Information: Between April 18 -April 25

Doug Mumford of the N.C. Division of Marine Fisheries (DMF) shared some creel survey information collected by creel clerks assigned to access areas on the Cape Fear River. The creel surveys are conducted during March, April, and May and extend in the upper portions of the Tar, Neuse, and Cape Fear rivers during this time of year. The surveys are administered by the Division of Marine Fisheries through Coastal Recreational Fishing License funding, and the N.C. Wildlife Resources Commission assists with survey design and data interpretation in the upper portions of each river. 

Fishing activity in the Cape Fear River for American shad, striped bass, and resident species (bream, crappie, bass) improve throughout the week.  Good American shad fishing returned to Lock No. 1 and continued strong at No. 2.  Anglers have also reported taking American shad at Lock No. 3.  Striper fishing picked up considerably at Lock No.1 with both natural and artificial bait.  Catfishing has been off to some extent in the Cape Fear and tributaries all year long.

 

Shad and Striped Bass Regulations for the Cape Fear River: 

The daily bag limit is 10 shad per angler, of which five (5) may be an American (white) shad on the Cape Fear River and its tributaries. 

Striped Bass may not be possessed in the Cape Fear River or its tributaries.

 

Back to Coastal Rivers Fisheries Reports 

District 4 Fisheries Biologist Michael Fisk with a Striped Bass collected at Lock and Dam 1 in the Cape Fear River on April 26, 2016.