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BASIC INFO:
River sampled:
Tar River
Fisheries Biologists conducting sampling:
Kirk Rundle, Tom Fox, and Corey Oakley
Date of sample:
5/7/2015
Area(s) of river sampled, and water temps:
From the WRC Bell’s Bridge boat ramp downstream to the Tarboro town boat ramp.
Water temperature was approximately 20 C, or approximately 70 F.
Boat ramp(s) used to access river:
Bell’s Bridge
Species (spp) information:
· Spp. captured:
Striped Bass
· Numbers by spp: 75 Striped Bass
· Size range by spp: Striped Bass 16-38”
· Max size for spp: Striped Bass– Female ~ 25 pounds
· Sex ratio by spp: Striped Bass 50% females
· Were the fish tagged?
Striped Bass were tagged with DMF individually numbered anchor tags
ADDITIONAL OBSERVATIONS:
River level and other water quality observations (turbity, etc.):
At time of sampling, Tar River was at optimal level for sampling and only moderately turbid.
Weather conditions on sampling date?
Warm and sunny.
Your observations of other people fishing on the river:
There were a few boat anglers fishing between Dunbar and Tarboro.
Comments to anglers about your sampling results, and fishing-related conclusions that can be drawn from your data:
American Shad are still available in moderate numbers in the vicinity of Battle Park. We have observed some larger, female Striped Bass and both species should be in the upper river in moderate numbers over the next week. All fish sampled were returned to the river in good condition. The river was at an ideal level for sampling last week and should be good for anglers as well this week. Rain earlier in the week has insured good access throughout this week, although caution should be used if levels continue to drop or rise substantially, depending on any additional precipitation.
During the 2015 spring spawning runs of anadromous fish and the anglers that enjoy taking the opportunity to fish for them, Kevin Dockendorf from N.C. Wildlife Resources Commission and Doug Mumford and Dallis Tucker from N.C. Division of Marine Fisheries share creel survey information collected from different stretches of our four coastal rivers: Roanoke River, Tar/Pamlico River, Neuse River and Cape Fear River. The Roanoke River Creel Survey is funded through the Federal Aid in Sport Fish Restoration and administered by the N.C. Wildlife Resources Commission. The creel surveys on the Tar/Pamlico, Neuse and Cape Fear Rivers are funded via through Coastal Recreational Fishing License funding and administered by N.C. Division of Marine Fisheries. The N.C. Wildlife Resources Commission and N.C. Division of Marine Fisheries collaborate on design and data analysis for annual compliance reports and fisheries management plans in North Carolina. We appreciate the time and efforts of the 2015 creel clerks to conduct these interviews: Patrick Railey and Jim Castelloe with N.C. Wildlife Resources Commssion, and Gabe Albanese, Jesse Bissette, Bobby Buck, Wesley Collett, Austin Parker, Charles Rice, Scott Smith, and Jim Woolard with N.C. Division of Marine Fisheries. Many thanks to our anglers who share their angling trip information with our creel clerks who gather this important data for our collaborative fisheries management objectives. See you next year!
Corey Oakley, NCWRC Piedmont Fisheries Research Coordinator, with a 25 pound female Striped Bass collected about 4 miles downstream of Fishing Creek on the Tar River that was tagged and released on May 7, 2015.