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BASIC INFORMATION:
River sampled:
Cape Fear River
Fisheries Biologists conducting sampling:
Michael Fisk
Justin Dycus
Date of sample:
May 18, 2015
Area(s) of river sampled, and water temps:
Lock and Dam 1 (Rock Arch Ramp) 75 F
Lock and Dam 2 75 F
Lock and Dam 3 77 F
Boat ramp(s) used to access river:
Lock and Dam 1 (Rock Arch Ramp)
Lock and Dam 2
Lock and Dam 3
Species (spp) information:
· Spp. captured:
American Shad
Striped Bass
· Numbers by spp:
American Shad = 182
Striped Bass = 14
· Size range by spp:
Males 12.6-19.9 in
Females 17.5-21.7 in
Males 14.0-23.1in
Female 25.0 in
· Max size for spp:
American Shad 21.5 in, 4.1 lbs
Striped Bass 25.0 in, 6.5 lbs
· Sex ratio by spp:
Females = 77
Males = 105
Juveniles = 1
Males = 12
Females = 1
· 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 759-1,440 cfs at all three Lock and Dams while sampling this week. Water clarity was typical for the Cape Fear River.
Weather conditions on sampling date?
Conditions were in the 80’s while sampling at all sites this week.
Your observations of other people fishing on the river:
Anglers were observed catching American Shad at Lock and Dam 2 this week. Anglers were catching catfish at all three sites as well.
Comments to anglers about your sampling results, and fishing-related conclusions that can be drawn from your data:
American Shad are still abundant at Lock and Dams 2 and 3 although there condition has declined as a result of spawning. Many of the American Shad we observed appeared to have already spawned and were in poor condition. Egg sampling in the evening also observed very little spawning activity. There are some Striped Bass still around the Lock and Dams but these are mainly composed of small males. Based on the warmer water temperatures and our declining catch rates, the spawning run for American Shad and Striped Bass appears to be coming to an end and this will be our last coastal report for the Cape Fear River for spring 2015. Anglers on the Cape Fear are now focusing on resident species like bass, catfish, and sunfish. Good luck!
Cape Fear River Creel Survey Update - Thank YOU!
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 Commission, 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!
Justin Dycus, NCWRC fisheries biologist, holds a Largemouth Bass and Blue Catfish collected near Rock Arch Ramp of Lock and Dam 1 on the Cape Fear River on May 18, 2015.