This website is a testing environment only. The contents of this site are not refreshed regularly and should not be relied upon.
For up-to-date information on North Carolina licenses, regulations and other wildlife resources, please visit the agency’s website NCWildlife.org.
BASIC INFO:
River sampled:
Roanoke River
Fisheries Biologists conducting sampling:
Katy Potoka, Chad Thomas and Kevin Dockendorf
Date of sample:
May 14, 2015-American Shad
May 12, 2015- Striped Bass
Area(s) of river sampled, and water temps:
American Shad-Highway 48 to Power lines near Gaston (66–66.5oF)
Striped Bass- Weldon (67.5–70oF)
Boat ramp(s) used to access river:
American Shad-Gaston BAA
Striped Bass- Weldon, BAA
Species (spp) information:
Spp. captured:
American Shad
Striped Bass
Numbers by spp:
3 American Shad
389 Striped Bass
Size range by spp:
American Shad: Males: 16 inches
Females: 20–21 inches
Striped Bass: Males: 14.5–41 inches
Females: 16–46 inches
Max size for spp:
American Shad: Female, 21 inches, 3.3 pounds
Striped Bass: Female, 46 inches, 45.2 pounds
Sex ratio by spp:
American Shad: 1 male, 2 females (.5:1 males to females)
Striped Bass: 295 males, 94 females (3:1 males to females)
Were the fish tagged?
American shad were fin clipped for samples to assess stocking contribution by genetic analysis.
Striped Bass were tagged with yellow anchor tags.
ADDITIONAL OBSERVATIONS:
River level and other water quality observations (turbity, etc.):
Flows were at 4,400 cfs on May 12th and 4,000 cfs on May 14th during sampling.
Weather conditions on sampling date?
Both May 12th and May 14th were sunny and warm.
Your observations of other people fishing on the river:
On May 14th 1 boat was observed fishing downstream below the power lines.
On May 12th ~35 trailers were seen at the Weldon Boating Access Area when we launched for our survey with most angling parties fishing downstream of “Big Rock” throughout the day.
Comments to anglers about your sampling results, and fishing-related conclusions that can be drawn from your data:
Due to the low flow conditions, our sample of American Shad was limited and only 3 of 9 sites were able to be surveyed. However, the few fish collected were in spawning condition and warrant continued surveys in upcoming weeks to assess our American Shad spawning stock on the Roanoke.
Striped Bass remained numerous this week, a wider range of sizes was present in this week’s sample and larger individuals (both male and female) made up a large proportion of the sample. Division of Marine Fisheries staff tagged all Striped Bass with yellow anchor tags. The low flow conditions limited sampling and we were unable to sample above the first set of rapids above the Weldon Boating Access Area. We will continue to monitor Striped Bass on the spawning grounds in the coming weeks.
Roanoke River Creel Survey Information:
After another week of the “Catch and Release” Striped Bass season on the Roanoke River, anglers continue to report good to great catches of Striped Bass downstream of Weldon to our Roanoke River creel clerks. Water levels were much lower than last week, yet many anglers noted an increase in spawning activity. Often, anglers begin to switch over to topwater lures during this spawning timeframe, although most anglers continued to utilize either live bait, artificial jigs or fly fishing during this highly regarded catch and release season. On Saturday, May 9, our creel clerk conducted about 40 interviews with anglers reporting catching and releasing a total of 2,003 Striped Bass!! These catch rates of 40 to 60 Striped Bass an outing have included many Striped Bass of a higher quality size than in previous years. While triple digit catches are less common this year, anglers are catching and releasing a number of quality 20+ inch Striped Bass. On Wednesday, May 13, anglers continued to catch good numbers of Striped Bass as more than 900 Striped Bass were reported caught and released by the angling parties interviewed that day.
Roanoke River flows were around 4,000 cfs with many rocks barely exposed and many more beneath around the boat ramp and down to Big Rock, where navigation is somewhat more manageable through this run of the river towards Troublefield Gut and down to the powerlines and beyond Halifax. Even with lower flows, good numbers of Striped Bass have been caught throughout the stretch from the Weldon boat ramp down to Halifax as well as numerous observations of spawning “fights” during early morning and evening hours over the past week as water temperatures are at optimal spawning temperatures.
Anglers are encouraged to engage in successful catch and release practices in efforts to minimize additional stress on Striped Bass during their spawning period, especially as water temperatures begin to climb above 70F. Besides the requirement of a single barbless hook in the Roanoke River, anglers should consider to keep the fish in the water when removing hooks for a quick release. When landing the fish, we suggest using a knotless mesh or rubber mesh net. Taking pictures of your catch is a rewarding opportunity and we encourage smiles by the angler and holding the fish in horizontal position as to support the weight of the fish with two points of contact. Return the fish to the water as quickly as possible to spawn and fight another day!
Anglers should be aware that flows on the Roanoke are subject to change at any time, although the flows are projected to be much lower this coming week, with an anticipated flow rate of 2,500 cfs anticipated to begin on Monday, May 18 and continue throughout the week.
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.
Kevin Dockendorf, NCWRC Coastal Fisheries Research Coordinator, holds a 46 pound, 46 inch female Striped Bass collected between the “Big Rock” and mouth of “Little River” during spawning stock electrofishing surveys on the Roanoke River on May 12, 2015. This female Striped Bass was tagged and released by NC Division of Marine Fisheries staff as part of a long-term cooperative tagging project to assess the extent of migration of the Albemarle/Roanoke stock of Striped Bass between their spawning grounds at Weldon and return to the Atlantic Ocean as fish of this size have been reported as recaptures off the coast of Virginia, New Jersey, Massachusetts as well as Montauk, New York, another popular Striped Bass angling destination.