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BASIC INFORMATION:
River sampled:
Cape Fear River
Fisheries Biologists conducting sampling:
Michael Fisk
Justin Dycus
Thad Watkins
Date of sample:
May 4, 2015
May 5, 2015
Area(s) of river sampled, and water temps:
Lock and Dam 1 (Rock Arch Ramp) 65 F
Lock and Dam 2 65 F
Lock and Dam 3 66 F
Riverside 65 F
Buckhorn Dam 65 F
Boat ramp(s) used to access river:
Lock and Dam 1 (Rock Arch Ramp)
Lock and Dam 2
Lock and Dam 3
Riverside Boat Ramp, Person Street, Fayetteville
Buckhorn Dam Canoe Launch
Species (spp) information:
· Spp. captured:
American Shad
Striped Bass
· Numbers by spp:
American Shad = 135
Striped Bass = 35
· Size range by spp:
Males 14-19 in
Females 17-22.5 in
Males 15 -28 in
Females 18-33.5 in
· Max size for spp:
American Shad 22.5 in, 4.1 lbs
Striped Bass 33.5 in, 18.8 lbs
· Sex ratio by spp:
Females = 70
Males = 65
Juveniles = 2
Males = 18
Females = 15
· Were the fish tagged?
Striped Bass were tagged with external anchor tags and internal PIT tags. There are rewards up to $100 for the submission of the anchor tags. If anglers encounter a striped bass with an external tagged striped bass, cut the tag before releasing the Striped Bass and either call NC Division of Marine Fisheries at 1-800-682-2632 or online at http://portal.ncdenr.org/web/mf/report-tag-online to report the tag for a reward.
ADDITIONAL OBSERVATIONS:
River level and other water quality observations (turbity, etc.):
The river was around 5,400-5,800 cfs at all three Lock and Dams and 4,200 cfs at Buckhorn Dam and Riverside while sampling this week. Water clarity was typical for the Cape Fear River.
Weather conditions on sampling date?
Conditions were sunny and warm while sampling at all sites this week.
Your observations of other people fishing on the river:
Anglers were observed catching American Shad at each Lock and Dam this week.
Comments to anglers about your sampling results, and fishing-related conclusions that can be drawn from your data:
American Shad were most abundant at Lock and Dam 2 this week with 42% of the catch coming from this site, followed by Lock and Dam 3 and 1. American Shad were also found at Riverside and Buckhorn Dam in lower numbers. Sample sites using the Riverside boat ramp off Person Street were about half way upstream to Erwin. Striped Bass were caught at all sites except Riverside this week with the highest catch rates at Lock and Dam 1, followed by Lock and Dam 2, 3, then Buckhorn Dam. American Shad were observed actively spawning this week right at dusk and there was a good mix of gravid and spent females in our collections this week. The Striped Bass collected averaged 5 lbs and we caught our largest fish this spring at over 18 lbs.
Cape Fear River Creel Survey Update
Striped Bass were being caught by anglers near Lock and Dam 1. American Shad were being caught at Lock and Dams 2 and 3 as well as some crappie and catfish as reported to the creel clerks during this week’s creel survey.
Doug Mumford from NCDMF shares creel survey information collected from different stretches along the Tar/Pamlico River, Neuse River and Cape Fear River. The DMF creel surveys are funded via through Coastal Recreational Fishing License funding, and the N.C. Wildlife Resources Commission assists with design and data analysis for annual compliance reports.
NCWRC Fisheries biologist Michael Fisk and Conservation Technician Thad Watkins with an 18.8 lb. Striped Bass collected at Lock and Dam 1 on the Cape Fear River on May 4, 2015.