Striped bass season on the Roanoke River is coming to an end.

With water temperatures in the peak spawning range of 68 to 70 degrees Fahrenheit and spawning striped bass observed multiple nights since last weekend, anglers hoping to reel in a striped bass from the Roanoke this year need to get on the river, sooner rather than later.

“Now that they’re on the spawning grounds and the water temperatures are optimal for spawning, stripers will likely to finish spawning, and start heading out,” said N.C. Wildlife Resources Commission biologist Kevin Dockendorf. He, along with fellow biologists Chad Thomas and Jeremy McCargo, sampled the river on Monday, collecting 1,256 striped bass, a few of them in the 30-to 35-pound range but most ranging anywhere from 13 inches to 24 inches.

A few of the female fish they collected had already spawned, a good indication that anglers will start noticing a significant tapering off of striped bass in the next couple of weeks.

While the fish are still at Weldon in decent numbers, the fishing itself has been hit and miss, particularly over the last couple of days, according to Bobby Colston, of Colston’s Tackle Box on Hwy. 48 south of Gaston.

By all accounts the fishing was good over the weekend and into Monday. Colston said on Monday he caught good numbers of striped bass on a flyrod using topwater bait and flukes. By Tuesday, however, the fishing had slowed down, at least for artificial bait fishermen. Colston said he caught only 12 fish and had to fish hard for them. Colston said that bait fishermen appeared to be catching more fish.

“It’s just hit and miss this time of year,” Colston said. “You’re liable to go down today, get on top of the fish and just kill them.”

Like last week, the majority of anglers are catching the smaller fish, although a few reports of big fish being caught have trickled in.

Hearing that anglers are catching numerous smaller fish doesn’t distress Dockendorf, who says that an abundance of smaller fish this year should lead to larger fish in upcoming years.

“No doubt, anglers caught a lot of small fish this year,” Dockendorf said. “These smaller fish represent two strong year classes of striped bass out there and they should contribute to the quality of striped bass fishing on the Roanoke for years to come.”

Please remember to use single barbless hooks or lures with a single barbless hook when fishing near Weldon to reduce hooking mortality on striped bass. 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. 

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!