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Commission biologist Jeremy McCargo holds up a striped bass weighing approximately 30 lbs. |
Another striped bass season on the Roanoke River has come to an end.
On Tuesday, biologists with the N.C. Wildlife Resources Commission and the Division of Marine Fisheries completed their last spawning stock assessment of the season. They collected about 190 striped bass, a far cry from the 904 collected last week.
The sizes of the fish collected ranged from 14 to 24 inches, with the largest being a 34-inch female. Biologists collected the majority of fish from the boat ramp to the mouth of the “Little River.” With water temperatures at 70 degrees and quickly warming as the summer approaches, the few remaining stripers will soon be gone until next spring when water temperatures are favorable for spawning striped bass arrival. Over the course of the striped bass sampling season, WRC and DMF biological staff collected about 5,500 striped bass and tagged about 4,000 of them.
Many thanks go out to the following people for their hard work during the 2008 striped bass sampling and creel season on the Roanoke River.
Cast Your Cares Away in Halifax County:
The Rockfish Capital of the World
The Roanoke River is considered by many
fishermen to be one of the best fishing destinations
anywhere, especially for striped bass (also
known as rockfish).
At one time, rockfish were at dangerously
low levels, but thanks to conservation measures,
they are now in plentiful supply; in fact, the Atlantic
Coast Marine Fisheries Commission declared
the striped bass in the Atlantic Coast to be
a “fully recovered” species. With continued conservation
efforts and sensible management, the
rockfish supply should continue to be abundant.
The best time for striper fishing on the Roanoke
River is from mid-March to early June
when water temperatures are between 65-70 degrees
Fahrenheit. Striped bass may be caught
and released May 1 through June 30, but
keeping them is limited to March 1 through
April 30. The lower Roanoke River is considered
to be US Hwy 258 bridge near Scotland
Neck to Albemarle Sound, and the upper Roanoke
River is considered to be US Hwy 258
bridge upstream near Scotland Neck to the Roanoke
Rapids Lake dam.
During the open season, anglers may
possess one daily creel limit of striped bass
on any day of the week. The daily creel limit
for striped bass is two fish per angler. The
minimum length limit for striped bass is 18
inches, and no striped bass between 22
inches and 27 inches in length may be possessed
at any time, and only one striped bass
larger than 27 inches may be included in the
daily creel limit.
The Roanoke River Striped Bass Management
Area is defined as the inland and
joint fishing waters of the Roanoke River
and its tributaries, extending from its mouth
upstream to the Roanoke Rapids Lake dam.
This area or parts thereof may be closed to
striped bass harvest at any time when allowable
poundage quotas have been reached.
Area Fishing Guide Services
Charlie’s Striper Guide Service
(252) 586-1159/(252) 532-7634 (cell)
Bobby Phillips-Carolina Sportsman Guide
(252) 203-3831, www.carolinasportsman.net
Bucks Unlimited Outdoor Adventures
(252) 535-2913 or 308-7523
Captain Jack Eudy
(252) 537-1386
Captain Rod Thomas
(336) 798-3327, www.telefishion.com
John O’Briant
(252) 532-3532
Occoneechee Lodge
(252) 583-1799, www.deerhuntingnc.com
Piney Woods Bait, Tackle & Hunting Shop
(252) 826-5283
Roanoke River Outfitters
(252) 536-3119, www.roanokehunting.com
Roanoke Tar Guide Service
(252) 532-9885, www.roanoketarguide.com
Additional guide services may be available. Check www.visithalifax.com or call 1-800-522-4282 for more information.
Anglers—stop by the Halifax County Visitors Center at 260 Premier Blvd. (I-95 Exit 173) in Roanoke Rapids for a complimentary bag of peanuts and information on area attractions, dining & accommodations! |