An estuary built for trout

North Carolina’s coastal frontier is home to some of the most-productive ecosystems in the nation and the lower Cape Fear River is one of them.

From the air, the Pamlico and Albemarle Sounds appear to be much larger, but the Cape Fear River basin is immense, covering over 20 percent of the state’s land cover. It spans nearly 10,000 square miles, receiving more overland runoff and flow than any other river basin in North Carolina. Nutrients of immense proportions arrive in the lower Cape Fear, fueling primary production in prime nursery grounds. Huge schools of juvenile fish and shrimp take refuge in these waters, taking advantage of the rich conditions.

Speckled trout have no reason to leave when the local estuary supplies a virtual buffet, with an endless supply of tasty treats — especially during their spawning season. Plus, trout seek out areas with high salinity levels and significant tidal flow to spawn, because eggs require high salinity to float and graduate to the fry stage.

In short, the lower Cape Fear very nearly represents everything a speckled trout could want in a “dream home.”