Fishermen had a great 2014 catching stripers on the Roanoke River, and the great spawn in 2011 should continue the good fishing this year. But those good times may not repeat the next few years.
“We had a dominant age-class of fish in 2011, which meant good fishing in 2014,” said guide Richard Andrews. “And those fish should be even bigger in 2015.”
But, he said, he’s been told by NCDMF personnel that “the 2012 class of fish was average, then 2013 was dismal.”
The reason? Tropical storm Andrea decimated the Roanoke flood plain, with the high water pushing striper eggs into the swamp, from which they couldn’t each Albemarle Sound to mature.
The N.C. Wildlife Resources Commission determines the success of striper spawns by conducting annual summer seine surveys in Albemarle Sound and counting fingerlings.
Recreational fishermen can keep two stripers per day in the Albemarle Sound from Oct. 1-April 30, with an 18-inch size minimum.
Be the first to comment