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BASIC INFO:
River sampled:
Roanoke River
Fisheries Biologists conducting sampling:
Katy Potoka, Chad Thomas and Kevin Dockendorf
Date of sample:
May 18, 2015
Area(s) of river sampled, and water temps:
Weldon (71–73oF)
Boat ramp(s) used to access river:
Weldon, BAA
Species (spp) information:
Spp. captured:
Striped Bass
Numbers by spp:
202 Striped Bass
Size range by spp:
Males: 9.5–35 inches
Females: 17–29 inches
Max size for spp:
Male, 35 inches, 17.6 pounds
Sex ratio by spp:
173 males, 29 females (6:1 males to females)
Were the fish tagged?
Striped Bass were tagged with yellow anchor tags.
ADDITIONAL OBSERVATIONS:
River level and other water quality observations (turbity, etc.):
Flows were at 2,500 cfs on May 18th
Weather conditions on sampling date?
Hot and sunny day, cloud cover ~40%
Your observations of other people fishing on the river:
~5 trailers were seen at the Weldon Boating Access Area.
Comments to anglers about your sampling results, and fishing-related conclusions that can be drawn from your data:
Due to the low flow conditions we were unable to survey American Shad at Gaston this week.
Striped Bass numbers decreased from last week, due in part to the low flow conditions and high water temperature. Striped Bass collected appeared nearly spawned out and will likely not be present at Weldon next week. Division of Marine Fisheries 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. Our weekly Striped Bass samples are complete and we will survey Striped Bass on the Roanoke River again next spring.
Flows on the Roanoke River this week were some of the lowest observed in recent years; 2002 was the last year where flows were less than current flows for the Roanoke during the spring. Flow management on the Roanoke is dynamic with many stakeholders involved in weekly conference calls to assess current situations that may influence flow rates. N.C. Wildlife Resources Commission staff coordinate with the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Dominion Power and other stakeholders in the Roanoke River Basin to adaptively manage flow on the Roanoke River during the striped bass spawning season on the Roanoke River. This year, inflows to Kerr reservoir have been below average. Storage in the reservoir was depleted during April to provide adequate flow and the basin has received very little rainfall in the month of May. Because the reservoir is now at the level typical of summer and inflows are low, flow in the Roanoke River has been reduced. The bulk of spawning activity occurred the week of May 11 when flow was just below the target range of spawning flows and water temperatures were within optimal spawning range. For the week of May 18, water temperatures exceeded the preferred spawning range and striped bass spawning would be nearly complete. Our research has shown some of the strongest year classes of Striped Bass have been produced during low flow years. In fact, very high flows, especially after the spawn, appear to be detrimental for year class production. Given the variability of natural recruitment of Striped Bass in the Roanoke River, we’ll continue to assess the effects of the 2015 spawning conditions on overall year class strength as the cohort moves through the population.
Roanoke River Creel Survey Information:
Angler catch rates of Striped Bass on the Roanoke River dropped dramatically this week, with many anglers reporting just a few Striped Bass caught and released, although some better catches of 20-30 Striped Bass released were reported. This decrease is attributed to water temperatures in excess of the optimal spawning temperatures for Striped Bass. Extremely low flows exposed numerous navigation hazards often not seen this time of year by anglers fishing for Striped Bass on the upper Roanoke River, especially between the Weldon Boat Ramp and “Big Rock”. Spawning activity is likely nearing the end for the 2015 season, although there are some reports that anglers are catching Striped Bass in the lower Roanoke as the Striped Bass are leaving the Roanoke and heading to the Albemarle Sound or Atlantic Ocean.
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!
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.
Roanoke River flows at 2,500 cfs just above the Weldon Boating Access Area on May 18, 2015. This year, inflows to John H. Kerr reservoir have been below average. Storage in the reservoir was depleted during April to provide adequate flow for fish spawning and the basin has received very little rainfall in the month of May. Because the reservoir is now at the level typical of summer and inflows remain low, flow in the Roanoke River was also reduced. Still, the majority of striped bass spawning activity occurred the week of May 11 on the Roanoke River when flow was just below the target range of spawning flows and water temperatures were within optimal spawning range for Striped Bass. Given the variability of natural recruitment of Striped Bass in the Roanoke River, we’ll continue to assess the effects of the 2015 spawning conditions on overall year class strength as this cohort recruits and moves through the population.