Sample Date
Area Sampled
Water Temp (oF)
Boat Ramp Used
5/6/2019
Lock & Dam 1
71
Lock & Dam 3
72
5/8/2019
Buckhorn Dam
70
Buckhorn Landing
Species
Striped Bass
American Shad
Hickory Shad
Number Collected
34
23
0
Min. Size (in)
9
16
Max. Size (in)
31
20
Max. Weight (lb)
12.7
3.0
Sex Ratio (M:F)
1.5:1
0.9:1
Fisheries Biologists conducting sampling:
Casey Grieshaber
Kyle Rachels
Biologists’ Observations:
Spawning migrations for both Striped Bass and American Shad are well past their peak, although some fish remain throughout the river. Several large Striped Bass were present in the Buckhorn Dam tailrace. Blue Catfish, White Perch, and juvenile Striped Bass were observed at Lock & Dams 1 and 3.
River level and other water quality observations:
The river was 9,000 cfs at Lock & Dam 1 and falling.
Weather conditions on sampling date:
Sunny and 80°F.
Observations of people fishing on the river:
A few boat anglers were observed at Lock & Dam 1 fishing for American Shad. Several bank anglers were present at Buckhorn Dam.
Week of May 5-10
The shad bite was slow this past week and anglers had success catching catfish at multiple sites along the Cape Fear River. Lock and Dam 3 had the best fishing by far and anglers reported catches of shad, striped bass, largemouth bass, and multiple species of sunfish.
Shad and Striped Bass Regulations for the Cape Fear River
The daily creel limit is 10 shad per angler, of which five (5) may be an American (white) shad on the Cape Fear River and its tributaries.
Striped Bass may not be possessed in the Cape Fear River and tributaries downstream of Buckhorn Dam.
Ami Staples of the N.C. Division of Marine Fisheries (DMF) shared some creel survey information collected from different stretches along the Cape Fear River. The creel surveys are conducted during March, April, and May in the upper portions of the Tar, Neuse, and Cape Fear rivers. The surveys are administered by the Division of Marine Fisheries through Coastal Recreational Fishing License funding, and the N.C. Wildlife Resources Commission assists with survey design and data interpretation in the upper portions of each river.
NCWRC Fisheries Biologist Casey Grieshaber with a 31-inch Striped Bass collected at Buckhorn Dam.
4/30/2019
67
4/29/2019
56
11
8
14
19
2.7
3.5:1
1.2:1
American Shad abundance has declined substantially, although there are still fish to be caught at Lock & Dam 1. Striped Bass abundance has peaked, although there are fewer spawning adults than observed in previous years. Large aggregates of White Perch and juvenile Striped Bass were observed at both Lock & Dam 1 and Lock & Dam 3.
The river was high and steady at Lock & Dam 1 at 12,600 cfs.
Sunny and 75°F.
Two boat anglers observed at Lock & Dam 1 reported catching American Shad.
Week of April 12-28
Lock and Dam 3 remained closed because of high water levels. Anglers targeted and caught catfish at Lock and Dam 1 and Tarheel boat access. A few shad are still being caught at Lock and Dam 1.
NCWRC Fisheries Biologist Kyle Rachels with a 12-lb Striped Bass collected at Lock & Dam 3.
4/22/2019
66
65
25
10
15
29
21
12.1
3.6
1.8:1
0.5:1
American Shad were still present at both Lock & Dam 1 and Lock & Dam 3. Striped Bass were on the move upstream—adults were caught at both locations. Blue and Flathead Catfish were also abundant this week.
The river was high and steady at Lock & Dam 1 at 12,000 cfs. Be sure to check current conditions using the links on the fisheries reports page.
Boat anglers present at both lock & dams reported catching shad and Striped Bass.
Week of April 15-21
The Cape Fear River remained flooded from recent rains and most access sites remained closed. Boating was dangerous because of large amounts of debris floating in the river. Anglers that did fish from the banks caught a few shad, but the bite was hit-and-miss.
NCWRC Fisheries Biologist Casey Grieshaber with an American Shad collected at Lock & Dam 1.
4/15/2019
40
37
27
9.8
3.4
1:0
0.85:1
American Shad were still abundant at Lock & Dam 1, and we observed several adult Striped Bass. Juvenile Striped Bass, White Perch, and small Channel Catfish were also present.
The river was flooding and continuing to rise with 20,000 cfs at Lock & Dam 1. Lock and Dam 3 was closed due to flooding and was not sampled.
Sunny and 65°F.
No anglers were observed.
Boaters should exercise due caution; boating anglers have already capsized below Lock and Dam 1 this spring.
Week of April 8–14
Anglers targeted shad and catfish earlier in the week, however heavy rains caused significant flooding and muddy water later in the week. The high water closed Lock and Dam 3 and most likely will limit access around Lock and Dam 1 the following week. Check current conditions at websites on the fisheries reports page.
NCWRC Fisheries Biologist Kyle Rachels with a Striped Bass collected at Lock & Dam 1.
4/9/2019
61
63
7
99
17
2.5
3.3
7:0
American Shad were abundant at both Lock & Dam 1 and Lock & Dam 3. Additionally, we have observed considerable numbers of small (6–8 inch) White Perch in slack-water areas below the dams. Few Striped Bass were observed this week.
The river was high and stable at 12,000 cfs at Lock & dam 1.
Rain and 70°F.
A few boat and bank anglers were observed at both Lock and Dams.
American shad were successfully caught at Lock and Dam 1, and water levels had dropped enough for full access of the river. Anglers targeting striped bass below Lock and Dam 1 caught several fish, and other anglers caught channel and blue catfish. The water levels have risen again near Lock and Dam 3 with recent rain and shad fishing was limited because of the high water. Always check current conditions before heading out to the river. See links on the fisheries report page for more information.
NCWRC Fisheries Biologist Kyle Rachels with an American Shad collected at Lock & Dam 1.
4/4/2019
57
55
32
1
2.8
3.7
1.5
1.4:1
Kyle Rachels and Casey Grieshaber
American Shad were very abundant at Lock & Dam 1. Few American Shad were present at Lock & Dam 3; however, fish should be migrating upstream as water temperatures warm over the coming week. Large aggregates of juvenile Striped Bass were present at both Lock & Dam 1 and Lock & Dam 3. These Striped Bass are likely migrants from stocking events in Jordan Lake that were displaced downstream during flood releases.
The river has experienced frequent flooding since last fall, and water levels are still high and steady with 7,100 cfs at Lock & Dam 1 as of April 4. Scouring and debris deposition associated with these floods have altered habitat features that anglers may have become familiar with in previous years.
The tailrace at Lock & Dam 1 was packed with boat anglers pursuing American Shad. Several boat and bank anglers were also located at Lock and Dam 3, mostly in pursuit of catfish.
Week of March 25–31
The shad fishing picked up last week at Lock and Dam 1. Most people who were targeting shad caught their limit and more. Anglers also targeted striped bass and catfish.
NCWRC Fisheries Biologist Casey Grieshaber and UNC-W graduate researcher David Belkoski collect data on Striped Bass collected at Lock & Dam 1.
3/28/2019
3.5
American Shad were fairly abundant at Lock & Dam 1, while the Lock & Dam 3 tailrace had several American Shad and small Striped Bass. Peak spawning for both species is still several weeks away. Few Hickory Shad have been observed this year.
The river has experienced frequent flooding since last fall, and water levels are still high and steady with 12,000 cfs at Lock & Dam 1. Scouring and debris deposition associated with these floods have altered habitat features that anglers may have become familiar with in previous years.
A few boat and bank anglers were present at both Lock & Dams. Anglers at Lock and Dam 1 were observed steadily catching American Shad.
Week of March 18–24
Shad fishing on the Cape Fear River picked up near Lock and Dam 1 as the water level was slowly going down. Anglers targeted catfish near Elwell’s Ferry and Lock and Dam 3, but the water level was still high and the current was flowing hard.
NCWRC Fisheries Biologist Casey Grieshaber with a 3-lb American Shad caught at Lock & Dam 1.
The boat ramp and fishing pier at Lock & Dam 2 are closed due to construction activities. Boat anglers wanting to fish Lock & Dam 2 must use Elwells Ferry BAA, located 24 river miles downstream. Bank anglers can use the fishing pier at Lock & Dam 1. For more information, please contact the US Army Corps of Engineers Wilmington District Office at 910-251-4625.
May 17, 2018
May 10, 2018
April 27, 2018
April 20, 2018
April 13, 2018
April 6, 2018
March 30, 2018
March 22, 2018
May 12, 2017
May 5, 2017
April 28, 2017
April 21, 2017
April 13, 2017
April 7, 2017
March 31, 2017
March 24, 2017
March 17, 2017
March 10, 2017