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BASIC INFORMATION:

River sampled:

Cape Fear

 

Fisheries Biologists conducting sampling:

Michael Fisk

Clint Morgeson

Madison Polera

 

Date of sample:

5/2/2016

5/3/2016 

 

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

Lock and Dam 1      

Lock and Dam 2

Lock and Dam 3

Buckhorn Dam

72-73 F 

 

Boat ramp(s) used to access river:

Lock and Dam 1      

Lock and Dam 2

Lock and Dam 3

Buckhorn tailrace primitive boat launch 

 

Species (spp) information:

·         Spp. captured:

·         American Shad        165

·         Striped Bass             24 

 

·         Size range by spp:

·         American Shad        14-22 in

·         Striped Bass             17-28 in

 

·         Max size for spp:

·         American Shad        22 in, 4.1 lbs

·         Striped Bass             28 in, 8 lbs

 

·         Sex ratio by spp:

·         American Shad        M:F     3:1

·         Striped Bass             M:F     5:1

 

·         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 river was turbid and had come up some with all the rain in the system 

 

Weather conditions on sampling date?

Rainy, storms 

 

Your observations of other people fishing on the river:

Anglers were observed catching American Shad at all three lock and dams.

 

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

Male striped bass were found below Lock and Dam 1 although females were hard to come by. Shad remain abundant at Lock and Dams 2 and 3 although some fish are spawned out and looking very skinny. 

2016 Cape Fear River Creel Survey Information: Between April 26 - May 1

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 for American shad, striped bass, and resident species (bream, crappie, bass) improve throughout the week.  Reports of good American shad fishing continued at all locks, especially at Locks 2 and 3. It is a great time to get that last trip of the year in for shad.  Striper fishing picked up considerably at Lock No.1 with both natural and artificial bait. One kayak angler reported that he caught and released more than 100 stripers in 3 days. Catfishing has been off to some extent this spring in the Cape Fear. 

 

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. 

 

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NCWRC fisheries technician Madison Polera holding an American Shad collected at Lock and Dam 3 on the Cape Fear River.