Written by:
3/22/2012 8:46 AM 

This week’s fishing report from the Roanoke River sounds a lot like last week’s report. Hickory shad are still up at Weldon in fairly big numbers, lots of spawning activity is being observed and boat and bank anglers are catching and releasing plenty of shad. Anglers fishing from the Edward’s Ferry BAA near Scotland Neck are also reporting good shad catches. Striped bass are in the lower river still. Jeremy McCargo, a fisheries biologist with the N.C. Wildlife Resources Commission and creel clerks at Plymouth, Jamesville and Williamston, report catches of striped bass continue to be sporadic but appear to be picking up. 

And finally, water flows at Weldon are still quite low so anglers should be cautious when launching their boats and navigating the river – and always wear their PFDs when on the water.

If you get a chance, check out our updated “Striped Bass Fishing Guide for the Roanoke River” page, where you will find loads of information about boating access areas along the river, bait and tackle recommendations, catch-and-release guidelines, types of fish hooks to use, and much more. You can also download and print a pocket-sized 2012 Striped Bass Regulations for the Roanoke River Striped Bass Management Area card, as well as information on how to measure a fish correctly. Our Frequently Asked Questions page has been updated as well and provides useful information for Roanoke River-bound anglers who want to make the most of their striper-fishing experience.

SAFETY NOTE: High flows following periods of low flow dislodge limbs, logs and in some cases, trees from up river locations.  Boaters should take extreme caution when traveling on the water and be on the lookout for these floating hazards!  Similarly, extreme low flows can expose rock outcroppings and make many areas too shallow to access. 

American Shad Regulation Information

The daily limit for shad is 10 fish per angler. Within this 10-fish daily limit, only one can be American (white) shad for the inland waters of the Roanoke River and its tributaries. These are waters above the US Highway 258 Bridge near Scotland Neck.

For a downloadable, color pamphlet identifying the species of shad and herring found in North Carolina waters, click here.

Striped Bass Season and Regulation Information

The entire Roanoke River Management Area is open to striped bass harvest from March 1 through April 30. 

The Roanoke River Management Area includes the Roanoke River and tributaries from Roanoke Rapids Lake Dam downstream to Albemarle Sound, including the Cashie, Middle and Eastmost rivers.     

The daily creel limit within the Roanoke River Management Area is two striped bass per person. The minimum length limit is 18 inches, and no striped bass between 22 and 27 inches may be possessed at any time. Only one striped bass larger than 27 inches can be included in the daily creel limit.

From April 1 – June 30 in inland waters of the Roanoke River upstream of the U.S. Hwy. 258 Bridge, only a single barbless hook or lure with a single barbless hook (or hook with the barb bent down) may be used. 

The Commission also encourages striped bass anglers to use small, non-offset circle hooks, preferably ones with the least amount of distance between the hook point and shank. Studies show that striped bass caught on small, barbless circle hooks are usually hooked in the jaw, which means they have a much greater chance of survival after being released than fish hooked in the throat or gut.

Click here for a downloadable pocket card on how to release striped bass safely.

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Tags: roanoke river , fishing report

Categories: Fishing

Location: Blogs North Carolina Wildlife Resources Commission Blog

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