status and abundance of striped bass, Morone saxatilis, in the Roanoke River and Albemarle Sound, North Carolina, 1977-1981

[From the U.S. Government Printing Office, www.gpo.gov]

THE STATUS AND ABUNDANCE OF STRIPED BASSJ MORONE SAXA-1-ILIS.;
IN THE ROANOKE RIVER AND ALBEMARLE SOUNDi NORTH CAROLINA, 1977-1981

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by
Wi I I i am W. Hassler
Professor of zoology
North Carolina state University

North Carolina Department of Natural Resources
and Community Development
Division of Marine Fisheries

Morehead City, NC 28557

Completion Report for Project AFS-14

March 1984

This project was'conducted.under the Anadromous Fish
Act (PL 89-304, as amended) and funded; in part, by
The U.S. Department of the Int@rior, Fish and Wildlife
Service.

SH351
.B3H35
1984

ABSTRACT

Several aspects of the life history and fisheries for striped
bass, Morone saxatilis, were investigated during 1977-81 in Roanoke
River and Albemarle Sound, North Carolina. Commercial and
recreational harvests declined sharply to extremely low levels.
Estimated egg production during 1981 was the lowest on record. Egg
viability was extremely low during 1977-80, but improved in 1981.
Juvenile abundance declined to the lowest level on record in 1981.
The number of fish tagged declined during the study period as did
the exploitation rate. Estimates of the spawning population, based
on the tagging work, were the lowest on record during 1980 and 1981.

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TABLE OF %CONTENTS Page
LIST OF TABLES . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . ii-iii

LIST OF FIGURES . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . iv

INTRODUCTION . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1

COMMERCIAL FISHING . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4
Commercial Catch of Striped Bass in North Carolina . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4
Commercial Catch of Striped Bass in the Roanoke River . . . . . . . . . . . 6
Commercial Catch of Striped Bass in Albemarle Sound . . . . . . . . . . . . 12
SPORT FISHING - ROANOKE RIVER . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 16
QUANTITATIVE SAMPLING OF STRIPED BASS EGGS, ROANOKE RIVER, N. C. . . . . . . . 19,
Viability of Striped Bass Eggs . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 20-
SAMPLING OF YOUNG-OF-YEAR STRIPED BASS IN ALBEMARLE SOUND . . . . . . . . . . 22
Trawl Data for Other Sp ecies Collected wit h Striped Bass in Albemarle
Sound . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . * * * ' * * * * * * * * * * * * . . . 24.
BALLOON TRAWL COLLECTIONS IN THE ROANOKE RIVER AND MIDDLE RIVER, N. C.,1978 . 26
STRIPED BASS TAGGING STUDIES . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 34
POPULATION ABUNDANCE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 35
SUMMARY . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 37-39
LITERATURE CITED . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 40

LIST OF TABLES

Table Page
1. Commercial catch and monetary value of striped bass in North
Carolina, 1977-1981 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5
2. Commercial catch of striped bass in North Carolina, 1977-1981, by
months, quantity in pounds . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7
3. Commercial catch of striped bass by number and weight (lbs), Roanoke
River, N. C.3, 1977-1981 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9
4. Roanoke River commercial catch of striped bass by gear, 1977-1981 . . . . 10
5. Roanoke River commercial catch of striped bass by gear and effort,
1977-1981 . . . . . . . . . 11
6. Commercial catch of striped b"as*s*by* w*ee'kl'y'in*te*rv*al's', 1*97*7-'19'81* 13
7. Roanoke River commercial catch of striped bass (in number of fish)
by location, 1977-1981 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 14
8. Catch per unit effort for striped bass caught by commercial gear on
the Roanoke River, 1977-1981 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 15
9. Commercial landings of striped bass from the Albemarle Sound area,
1977-1981 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 15
10. Catch and effort data for striped bass caught by rod and reel fishery
in the Weldon area of the Roanoke River, 1977-1981 . . . . . . . . . . . 17
11. Catch and effort data for striped bass caught by bow nets (drifting)
in the Roanoke River, N. C., 1977-1981 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 17
12. Catch and effort data for striped bass caught by bow nets (fight) in the
Roanoke River, N. C., 1977-1981 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 17
13. Estimated 'sport catch and effort of striped bass in the Roanoke River,
N. C. 1977-1981 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. . . . . . . . . . . . . 18
14. Estimated number of striped bass eggs spawned in the Roanoke River,
N. C., 1977-1981 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 20
15. Striped bass egg viability during the spawning season in the Roanoke
River, N. C., 1977-1981 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 21
16. Striped bass spawning and egg viability related to water temperature
during spawning season, Roanoke River, N. C., 1977-1981 . . . . . . . . . 21
17. Mean number of young-of-year striped bass caught per 15-minute trawl
by year and station in Albemarle Sound, N. C., 1977-1981 . . . . . . . . 24

Table Page
18. Number of fishes collected by bottom trawl in Albemarle Sound,
N. C. by species and year, 1977-1981 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 25
19. Bottom trawl data by species and mean catch per trawl in western
Albemarle Sound from 1977 to 1981 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 27-28
20. Bottom trawl fish catch composition by species and mean catch per
trawl in Albemarle Sound, N. C., 1977-1981 (269 trawls) . . . . . . . . . 29-30
21. Species and number of fish collected by bottom trawl in the Roanoke
River and Middle River, N. C., 1978 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 31
22. Species and number of fish collected by day surface trawl in the
Roanoke River and Middle River, N. C., 1978 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 32
23. Species and number of fish collected by night surface trawl in
the Roanoke River, N. C., 1978 (24 trawls) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 33
24. Number of striped bass tagged in the Roanoke River, 1977-1981 . . . . . . 34
25. Cumulative rate of exploitation for striped bass in Roanoke River
and Albemarle Sound, N. C. 1977-1981 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3.5
26. Estimated number of striped bass in the spawning population in the
Roanoke River, N. C., 1977-1981 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 36

LIST OF FIGURES

Ficure Page
1. Map of the Roanoke River and Albemarle Sound, N. C. . . . . . . . . . . . 2
2. Map of the sampling area and station locations for young-of-year striped
bass in the western end of Albemarle Sound, N. C. . . . . . . . . . . . 23

INTRODUCTION

The Roanoke River is a major coastal stream of North Carolina. It originates
in Virginia on the eastern slopes of the Appalachian Ridge, traverses the rolling
Piedmont Plateau, descends the Atlantic Coastal Plain and discharges into Albe-
marle Sound through several channels (Figure 1). A descent of 2,900 feet occurs
in the 410 miles from the headwaters to the estuary. The drainage basin of the
Roanoke covers approximately 9,600 square miles, of which two-thirds are in
Virginia and one-third in North Carolina. The average annual discharge of the
Roanoke River at Weldon, North Carolina is approximately 8,500 cubic feet per
second. Carnes (1965) presented a general description of the chemical, physical,
and biological features of the Roanoke River Basin.
Albemarle Sound is a shallow coastal estuary which extends about 60 mi in
an east-west direction from the mouth of the Roanoke River. It averages about
7 mi in width (range 3.5 to 15 mi), and its area is about 500 square miles.
Eight rivers drain into Albemarle Sound, which empties into the Atlantic Ocean
via Oregon Inlet. Salinities vary from 0 parts per thousand (ppt) in the wes-
tern end to approximately 10 ppt at the eastern extremity.

Hydroelectric Impoundments

The record flood which occurred in 1940 instigated the construction of
hydroelectric impoundments on the Roanoke River by the Corps of Engineers, U. S.
Army and the Virginia Electric and Power Company. The John H. Kerr Dam was
completed in 1952 at river mile 179.5. It is a multipurpose impoundment for
flood control and hydroelectric power and covers an area of about 49,000 acres
at normal elevation. The Gaston Dam was constructed downstream (river mile
145.5) from the John H. Kerr Dam. It was completed in 1963 and serves primar-
ily for hydroelectric power. It has a surface area of 20,300 acres. The
Roanoke Rapids Dam, located at river mile 137.5, was completed in 1955. It
impounds approximately 4,900 acres (Figure 1).

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F igure I M@lp of tile Roanoke River and Albemarle sound, N. C.

The waters of the Roanoke River serve three major users--hydroelectric
power, industrial, and fisheries, both sport and commercial. Other important
users include agriculture, lumbering, transportation, and recreation.
The conflicting uses of the Roanoke River necessitated the formation of.a
Steering Committee for Roanoke River Studies in 1955. This organization, com-
posed of state , federal, and private agencies and interests, made a comprehensive
study of the river in order to adjudicate conflicting interests and maintain
river conditions to permit multiple use. The results of this study were presented
in detail by Fish (1959).
The cooperative Roanoke-Albemarle Str'iped Bass Studies originated in 1955 as
part of the Steering Committee studies. Our studies were originally supported by
the National Council for Stream Improvement, Weyerhaeuser Company, and Albemarle
Paper Manufacturing Company. The Steering Committee Studies were terminated in
1958, but the Weyerhaeuser Company continued its support in an endeavor to be a
concerned and responsible corporate-neighbor. However, cooperative field work
was resumed in 1975 with the U. S. Fish and Wildlife Service and the North Carolina
Department of Natural Resources and Community Development, Division of Marine
Fisheries, under the Anadromous Fish Act (PL 89-304).
These studies have been conducted annually since 1955 to provide long term
information on the status and abundance of the striped bass which is the most
valuable sport and commercial fish in the Roanoke River and Albemarle Sound. This
annual study provides a continuing source of data on the status of the striped bass
population. The data are utilized by state agencies for current management infor-
mation and decisions.
The long term objectives of the striped bass studies are as follows: (1) to
determine the striped bass catch and rite of exploitation by commercial fishermen;
(2) to determi'ne the catch and rate of exploitation by sport fishermen; (3) to
record the prevailing ecological conditions during the spawning season in the Weldon
area; (4) to collect striped bass eggs during the spawning season in order to
estimate the number of eggs spawned and the viability of the eggs; (5) to estimate
the size of the spawning population; (6) to detect changes in the size of the
spawning population; (7) to determine the ecological conditions prevailing in
Albemarle Sound when the striped bass larvae reach the estuary; (8) to make periodic

trawl collections in Albemarle Sound during the summer and fall to determine the
relative abundance and growth of striped bass young-of-year; (9) to detect variat-
ions in recruitment of striped bass in the Albemarle Sound population; (10) to
observe and recommend fishery management practices which might provide the best
sustained yield for the present and future purposes; and (11) to develop methods
of predicting future commercial catches.
The data acquired during these studies have been available to graduate
students for special problems and thesis material and also to biologists in other

areas.
This report was prepared in compliance with the agreement for Project AFS-14
funded, in part, by the Fish and Wildlife Service, U. S. Department of Interior
under the Anadromous Fish Conservation Act, PL-89-304 (as amended). Additional
funding was provided by the Weyerhaeuser COMDany.

COMMERCIAL FISHING
Commercial Catch of Striped Bass in North Carolina

The commercial fish landings in North Carolina have been recorded since 1887
by various federal agencies, including the U. S. Fish Commission, the U. S. Bureau
of Commercial Fisheries, and the National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS) of the
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. Since 1978, data have been collected
by the North Carolina Department of Natural Resources and Community Development,
Division of Marine Fisheries in cooperation with NMFS. In 1980 the North Carolina
Division of Marine Fisheries took over the publication of these data.
From 1967 to 1976 the commercial striped bass catch exceeded 1,000,000 pounds
annually. The peak year was 1970, and a total of 2,318,000 pounds was landed during
that year. However, by 1977 the commercial striped bass landings had declined to
approximately 572,000 pounds, and decreased landings were reported for the five con-
secutive years extending from 1977 through 1981. These data are listed in Table 1.
Decreased striped bass landings have been reported throughout the United States
since the mid 1970's, and this decline is generally attributed to long-term cyclic
fluctuations and short-term meterological conditions. These reduced catches have
instigated considerable criticisms of striped bass management policies from

Table 1. Commercial catch and monetary value of striped bass in North Carolina,
1977-1981 Quantity in Value in dollars
Year Pounds x 1000 x 1000

1977 572 405
1978 698 623
1979 614 577
1980 473 435
1981 417 452

commercial fishermen and sport fishermen. However, in my opinion the advent of
favorable meterological conditions should result in a gradual improvement in
striped bass catches.
The monthly commercial catch records for striped bass for the years 1977, 1978,
1979, 1980, and 1981 are tabulated in Table 2. The most productive month for
commercial striped bass was-March-with a cumulative total of 541,220 pounds. February
accounted for 398,764 pounds, while November landings totalled 380,813 pounds.
Generally, the striped bass landings for this 5-year period were in excess of
200,000 pounds for the months extending from October through April. May and September
were in excess of 100,000 pounds, and the summer months of June, July, and August
were less than 100,000 pounds. Generally, the cool and cold weather months pre-
dominated the striped bass commercial landings.

Commercial Catch of Striped Bass in the Roanoke River

Commercial fishing extends 102 miles from the mouth of the Roanoke River
upstream to the Scotland Neck bridge (Figure 1). Striped bass are caught by various
types of commercial gear which include anchor gill nets, "rock" drift gill nets
(drift gill nets designed to catch striped bass), trotlines, fishing machines or
wheels, hoop and fyke nets, rod and reel, and haul seines. A small number of striped
bass are captured in herring nets and perch traps.
A complete census of the striped bass commercial fishery in the Roanoke River
has been conducted by the Roanoke-Albemarle Project personnel since 1958. Each
commercial fisherman was contacted prior to the fishing season and the commercial
creel census was discussed with him. A log book was given to each fisherman to
record the daily catch and effort for striped bass. During the season field biol-
ogists contacted each fisherman weekly to obtain the records. Some of the more
active commercial fishermen are contacted daily. Also, the field biologists main-
tained records for other fishermen in the operation of a striped bass tagging program.
Additional records are obtained from daily receipts of commercial fishermen and
from fish houses in the area. The most complete records were obtained from the more
experienced and successful fishermen. Records were not received with much accuracy
from some intermittent and irregular commercial fishermen. However, the striped bass
catch of these individuals constituted a negligible percentage, A local fisherman

Table 2. Commercial catch of striped bass in North Carolina, 1977-1981,
by months, quantity in pounds

Year
Month 1977 1978 1979 1980 1981 Total

January 49,291 58,515 47,179 34,339 34,446 223,770
February 47,500 185,743- 82,779 48,949 33,793 398,764
March 63,713 141,487 246,854 44,848 44,318 541,220
April 32,886 79,667 63,777 27,248 29,746 233,324
May 22,182 22,509 32,446 17,399 18,949 113,485
June 18,395 12,316 11,293 12,027 15,807 69,838
July 6,165 9,058 5,148 14,955 11,581 46,907
August 13,841 8,170 4,610 15,8T9-' 13,749 56,189
September 22,243 17,007 13,480 26,839 42,170 121,739
October 62,912 73,652 41,750 85,291 80,268 343,873
November 118,631 57,231 33,399 102,250 69,302 380,813
December 113,892 32,507 31,469 42,539 23,195 243,602

Total 571,651 697,862 614,184 472,503 417,324 2,773,524

was also employed to maintain records of the catches of "sport-commercial" fisher-
men who fish mainly weekends and at night. This group has competed for fishing
areas with the traditional resident commercial fishermen, and some conflict has
ensued from the competitive and crowded conditions.
Declining striped bass populations in recent years (1977-1980) necessitated
a review of commercial fishing methods employed in the Roanoke River during the
striped bass spawning run. The North Carolina Marine Fisheries Commission con-
ducted public hearings during the winter of 1980-1981 and amended the fisheries
regulations for the Roanoke, Cashie, Middle, and Eastmost Rivers as follows:
(1) No 'fixed or stationary gill net of any size shall be used during the
period April 1 to May 31 from the mouth of the Roanoke River to Highway
258 bridge.
(2) No drift gill net with a mesh length of less than two and one-fourth inches
or greater than three inches stretch mesh shall be used during the period
April 1 to May 31 from the mouth of the Roanoke River to Highway 258 bridge.
Also, the North Carolina Wildlife Resources Commission was instrumental in the
rescinding of a local regulation permitting the use of special devices such as drift
bow nets and fight bow nets in the Weldon area of the Roanoke River.
The commercial striped bass catch in the Roanoke River is recorded by number
and weight for 1977, 1978, 1979, 1980, and 1981 in Table 3. These data indicate an
acceptable decline in catches for 1977, 1978 and 1979 but a sharp decline occurred
in 1980. A precipitous drop occurred in 1981, but this was the result of the ban on
set gill nets for striped bass. It is also necessary to point out that the highest
total of 16,253 striped bass was caught in a high water year. The sharp decline to
2,286 striped bass occurred in 1980 whic'h was one of the lowest years on record
in respect to river flow during the spring spawning run.
Examination of the data presented in Table 4 shows that anchor gill nets were
the most proficient gear in catching striped bass, with a total catch of 29,450 fish
over the 5-year period, 1977-1981. This gear caught the highest total of striped bass

Table 3. Commercial catch of striped bass by number and weight (lbs), Roanoke
River, N. C., 1977-1981

'Year Number.ca.ught Total weight in pounds

1977 10,465 36,620
1978 16,253 56,886
1979 9,798 34,293
1980 2,286 8,001
1981. 349 1,468.

in the Roanoke River in 1978 when 12,085 fish were taken. This peak catch declined
to 8,511 striped bass in 1979, and the fishery was severely curtailed in 1980 when
anchor gill nets captured only 1,935 striped bass. However, fishing conditions in
the Roanoke River were very poor during 1980 because of a prolonged drought and con-
sequent low river flows.
The 1981 striped bass commercial catches.were completely curtailed in 1981 by
the ban on anchor gill nets. However, low water levels limited the catch from the
use of other gear.
Roanoke River striped bass catch and effort data are presented in Table 5 by
gear for the years 1977-1981. The greatest effort was expended by hoop net fishermen
with a total of 17,339 net days. However, this gear is very inefficient in catching
striped,bass,and only 290 fish were caught despite the effort expended. The second
largest effort was expended by anchor gill nets with 15,600 net days, and a capture
of 29,450 fish. Again, we mention that the anchor gill net has been banned by reg-
ulation commencing in the 1981 season. Herring-drift gill nets are used considerably
on the Roanoke kiver,but this gear catches few striped bass. An effort of 3,684 net
days over the 5-year period caught only 211 striped bass. Drift gill nets for striped
bass (now banned) caught the most striped bass in relation to effort with a total of
6,911 striped bass caught during 1,*066 net days. However, the use of this gear is
governed closely by river flow conditions. Trotlines, fishing machines, rod and reel,
and herring-set gill nets account for lesser numbers of striped bass.

-Table 4. Roanoke River come rcial catch of striped bass by gear, 1977-1981

Anchor Drift Hoop Fishing Rod & Herring set Herring drift
Year gill net gill net Trotline net machine reel gill net gill net Total catch

1977 6,597 3,134 59 155 220 164 - 136 10,465
1978 12,085 3,278 4 48 698 94 14 32 16,253
1979 8,511 433 3 81 571 142 20 37 9,798
1980 1,935 66 0 5 138 138 0 4 2,286
1981. 322 0 9 1 14 0 1 2 349

Total 29,450 6,911 75 290 1,641 538 35 211 39,151.

Table 5. Roanoke River commercial catch of striped bass by gear and effort, 1977-1981

Herring-set Herring-drift
Year Anchor gill net Drift gill net Trotline Hoop net Fishing machine Rod & reel gill net gill net

Fish Days Fish Days Fish Days Fish Days Fish Days Fish Days Fish Days Fish Days
1977 6,597 2,615 3,134 359 59 345 155 A-074 220 148 164 104 - - 136 908
1978 12,085 4,241 3,278 433 4 17 48 3,623 698 136 94 79 14 266 32 1,007
1979- 8,511 6,112 433 210 3 70 81 2' 'OT9 571 148 142 79 20 371 37 1,008
1980 1,935 2,441 66 64 0 0 5 430 138 95 138 63 0 56 4 83
1981 322 191 0 0 9 188 1 6,893 14 30 0 0 1 42 2 678

Total 29,450 . 15,600 6,911 ' 1,066 75 620 290 17,339 1,641 557 538 325 35 735 211 3,684
C.U.E. 1.89 6.48 0.12 0.02 2.95 1.66 0.05 0.06
Percent of
Total Catch 75..22 17.65 0.19 0,74 M9 1.37 0.09 0.54

The 1977-1981 commercial catch of striped bass from the Roanoke River is
listed by weeks in Table 6. The five-week period from April 1 to May 5 accounted
for approximately 77% of the season's catch. The season extends over a 16-week
span, but the majority of landings are concentrated over a 5-7-week period.
The commercial catch of striped bass by location along the Roanoke River is
presented in Table 7 for the years 1977-1981. These data show that the commercial
fishery is (was) concentrated in the Jamesville and Williamston areas where 92.42%
of the striped bass were landed.
The catch per unit effort of striped bass by various commercial methods in
the Roanoke River is tabulated in Table 8 for the years 1977-1981. These data
indicate the most efficient gear is drift gill nets with a catch of 6.48 striped
bass per unit effort. The second most efficient is the fishing machine which
lands 2.95 striped bass per gear day but is limited in effort by river conditions.
The anchor gill net lands 1.89 fish per net day, rod and reel lands 1.66 striped
bass per unit effort, and the catches by trotlines, hoop nets, and herring nets
(drift and set) are all negligible.

Commercial Catch of Striped Bass in Albemarle Sound

The commercial catch of striped bass in Albemarle Sound is presented in Table 9.
These data indicate a considerable decline in striped bass landings in 1977 and sub-
sequent years. The previous striped bass landings for 1975 and 1976 were 625,005 and
610,385 pounds, respectively. The five-year (1977-1981) commercial catch of striped
bass is the lowest for any similar period over the.past 22 years.

Table 6. Commercial catch of striped bass by weekly intervals, 1977-1981

Number striped bass caught
Year Percent of
Weeks 1977 1978 1979 1980 1981 Total catch total catch

Prior to March 25 396 89 70 2 1 558 1.43
March 25-31 1,245 137 269 13 4 1,668 4.26
April 1-7 2,243 1,099 751 78 30 4,201 10.73
Apr-il 8-14 2,439 3,232 1,666 353 105 7,795 19.91
April 15-21 1,757 3,389 1,898 385 145 7,574 19.35
April 22-28 1,054 2,333 2,445 553 45 6,430 16.42
April 29-May 5 642 1,555 1,412 340 1 3,950 10.09
May 6-12 328 1,134 757 322 14 2,555 6.53
May 13-19 208 871 337 196 3 1,615 4.13
May 20-26 117 625 136 44 1 923 2.36
May'27-June 2 30 518 52 - - 600 1.53
June 3-9 6 454 5 - - 465 1.19

June 10-16 - 374 - - - 374 0.96

June 17-23 - 275 - - - 275 0.70

June 24-30 - 140 - - - 140 0.36
July 1-2 - 28 - - - 28 0.07

Total 10,465 16,253 9,798 2,286 349 39,151 100.00
Percent of
total catch 26,73 41.51 25.03 5.84 0.89

Table 7. Roanoke River commercial catch of striped bass (in number of fish) by
location, 1977-1981

Oak City
Hobgood
Plymouth Palmyra
Daley Hill Kelford Scotland
Year Broad Creek Jamesville Williamston Hamilton Lewiston Neck Total

1977 538 5,900 3,519 298 85 125 10,465
1978 283 4,458 11,469 39 4 - 16,253
1979 1,057 1,375 6,957 409 - 9,798
1980 83 147 2,007 49 - - 2,286
1981 0 1 348 0 0 0 349

Total 1,961 11,881 24,300 795 89 125 39,151

Percent
of total 5.00 30.35 62.07 2.03 0.23 0.32 100.00
catch

Table'8. Catch per unit effort for striped bass caught by commercial gear on the
Roanoke River, 1977-1981

Anchor Drift Trot- Hoop Fishing Rod & Herring-set Herring-drift
Year gill net gilT.net line net machine re6l'' gill net gill net

1977 2.52 8.73 0.17 0.04 1.49 1.58 - 0.15

1978 2.85 7.57 0.24 0.01 5.13 1.19 0.05 0.03
1979 1.39 2.06 0.04 0.04 3.86 1.80 0.05 0.04
1980 0.79 1.03 0.00 0.01 1.45 2.19 0.00 0.05

1981 T.69 0.00 0.05 0.0001 0.47 0.00 0.003

Weighted
mean 1.89 6.48 0.12 0.02 2.95 1.66 0.05 0.06

Table 9. Commercial landings of striped bass from the Albemarle Sound area,
1977-1981

Year Landings Ob).

1977 422,144
1978 475,913
1979 243,744
1980 376,510
1981 333,484

From National Marine Fisheries Service and North Carolina Division of Marine
Fisheri.e.s.

SPORT FISHING

Sport fishing for striped bass in the Roanoke River occurs over a 140-mile
area from the mouth of the river to the Roanoke Rapids dam. The Weldon area is
the most popular site for striped bass anglers. Consequently, our creel census
effort is concentrated in the Weldon area, although catch records are maintained
for the entire 140-mile stretch. We strive to collect complete creel census data
at Weldon during the spawning season and maintain personnel at the access site
approximately 18 hours per day.
The striped bass catch and effort for rod and reel fishermen in the Weldon
area of the Roanoke River, 1977-1981, is presented in Table 10. These data show
that the most fish were caught in 1977 and 1979 with 10,898 and 11,126 striped
bass respectively. The catch per unit effort for these years of 3.98 and 3.16
striped bass were also the highest achieved during the five-year period. It should
be stressed that 1977 and 1979 were years of more normal river flows. High river
discharges occurred during the spawning season in 1978, and record low flows occurred
in 1980 and 1981. A similar striped bass catch distribution also occurred in 1977
and 1979 for bow nets (drifting) when a total of 2,054 and 835 fish were taken res-
pectively (Table 11). Again river flows disrupted the fishing in 1978 (high water)
and in 1980 (low water), and bow netting was banned in 1981.
The striped bass bow net catch from "fights" is listed in Table 12. These data
show that the most striped bass were landed by this method in 1977 (8,769). In
second place was 1979 (5,957), and 1980 ranked third (5,451). The fewest fish were
caught in 1978 (1,051) when high water releases interferred with this type of fishing.
In 1981 the regulation banning bow netting precluded the catch of striped bass. It
should be noted that the catch of striped bass did not decline appreciably in 1980
(a low water year) since this type of fishing harvests the fish at the surface while
spawning, when they are easily exploited.
The estimated sport catch and effort for all areas of the Roanoke River is
presented in Table 13. These data show the decline in sport catch and effort from
1977 (10,074 trips and 32,983 striped bass) to 1981 (2,706 trips and 3,905 fish
caught). The 1981 decline in the size of the spawning run of striped bass was aggrav-
ated by the low water flow during the migratory period. The 1981 sport catch of
3,905 striped bass was the lowest recorded during the 26-year tenure of the study.

Table 10. Catch and effort data for striped bass caught by rod and reel fishery
in the Weldon area of the Roanoke River, 1977-1981

Year Boat days Total catch C.U.E. S.E.

1977 2,739 10,898 3.98 0.11
1978 1,450 3,500 2.41 0.14
1979 3,525 11,126 3.16 0.11
1980 2,518 7,279 2.89 0.18
1981 2,128 3,427 1.61 0.11

Total 12,360 36,230 2.93

Table 11. Catch and effort data for striped bass caught by bow nets (drifting)
in the Roanoke River, N. C., 1977-1981

Mean no.
No. No. No. Total fish/boat
Year boats nets f i sherTnen catch � S.E. ZX2

1977 253 257 483 2,054 8.12 � 0.76 53,134
1978 83 83 173 286 3.45 � 0.63 3,582
1979 190 190 383 835 4.39 0.46 11,111
1980 85 85 170 415 4.88 0.66 5,217
1981 No bow nets allowed in the Weldon area in 1981

Total 611 615 1,209 3,590 5.88

Table 12. Catch and effort data for striped bass caught by bow nets (fight) in the
Roanoke River, N. C., 1977-1981

Mean no.
No. No. No. Total fish/boat
Year boats nets fishermen catch � S.E. ZX2

1977 986 987 2,028 8,769 8.89 � 0-56 384,537
1978 328 328 690 1,051 3.20 � 0.42 22,499
'1979 719 720 1,404 5,957 8.29 � 0.57 215,807
1980 437 437 5,451 5.90 � 0.71 463,725
1981 No bow nets allowed in the Weldon area in 1981

Total 2,470 2,472 4,122 21,228 8.59

Table 13. Estimated sport catch and effort of striped bass in the Roanoke
Ri'ver, N. C. 1977-1981

Year No. fishing units No. striped bass C.U.E.

1977 10,074 32,983 3.27
1978 10,161 28,016 2.76
1979 9,048 29,419 3.25
1980 4,189 15,239 3.64
1981 2,706 3,905 1.44

Total 36,178 109,562 3.03

QUANTITATIVE SAMPLING OF STRIPED BASS EGGS

The Roanoke-Albemarle project striped bass egg sampling station was located
at Barnhill's Landing from 1977 through 1981. Barnhill's Landing is located
approximately nine miles downstream from the major spawning grounds at Weldon,
North Carolina. Some striped bass spawning occurs below the sampling station,
but it is relatively insignificant.
The river's contour at Barnhill's Landing was surveyed, and a nomagraph was
drawn indicating the cross-sectional area in square feet of the river for each river
stage. A river stage gauge was constructed at the sampling station.
The samples were taken by a standard 10-inch net from each side of the stern
of a small aluminum outboard motorboat. The nets were adjusted according to river
flow to remain approximately six inches under the surface. Five-minute samples
were collected eight times daily at three-hour intervals. The river stage, surface
water temperature, and air temperature were recorded as each sample was taken. The
number of striped bass eggs collected by each net was counted, the number of non-
viable eggs determined, and the stage determined for the viable eggs. For each day
the estimated number of eggs spawned was calculated by using the following equation:
N = 514.29 XY
where N = estimated number of eggs spawned in 24-hour period
X = average number of eggs collected per net during 24-hour period
Y = cross-sectional area of river for average river stage during
24-hour period,
and 514.29 = constant for 10-inch net.
The annual striped bass egg sampling program commences at the first significant
indication of spawning and continues until it is virtually negligible.
The estimated number of striped bass eggs spawned annually in the Roanoke River
for the period 1977-1981 is tabulated in Table 14. These data show a continual
decline in the number of eggs spawned, and this decline is the most acute ever re-
corded during the past 20 years. This decrease in the total number of eggs spawned is
attributed to the reduction in number of spawners, decreased egg viability (1977-1981)
and low river flows in 1980 and 1981.

Table 14. Estimated number of striped bass eggs spawned in the Roanoke River,
N. C., 1977-1981

Estimated number of
Year striped bass eggs spawned

1977 1,775,957,318
1978 1,691,227,585
1979 1 613,382,382
1980 870,322,832
1981 344,364,065

Viability of Striped Bass Eggs

The viability of the striped bass eggs is determined immediately following
collection of each sample. Non-viable eggs have been classified into the following
categories: 1. Milky-white and opaque
2. Yolk disintegrated and perivitellene space cloudy
3. Yolk disintegrated and perivitellene space clear
4. Yolk and oil globule disintegrated
5. Oil globule broken or disintegrated
6. Embryo disintegrated
7. Post larvae dead upon collection
8. Embryo normal but yolk subnormal in size
9. Embryo abnormal
Striped bass egg viability was determined over the five-year period from 1977 to
1981. These data are presented in Table 15. These data indicate that striped bass
egg viability, which first declined in 1975 (55.69%) and 1976 (50.73%) reached its
lowest point in 1978 (37.72%). The viability continued poor in 1979 and 1980 with
43.62 and 43.39% respectively. However, a resurgence in viability occurred in
1981 with an increase to 73.70%.

Table 15. Striped bass egg viability during the spawning season in the
Roanoke River, N. C., 1977-1981

Number of Number of Percent
Year non-viable eggs viable eggs viable eggs

1977 6,332 7,061 52.72
1978 2,942 1,782 37.72
1979 4,448 3,442 43.62
1980 3,025 2,319 43.39
1981 911 2,554 73.70

Total 17,658 17,158 49.28

The striped bass egg viability as related to water temperatures is tabulated
in Table 16. These data indicate a considerable range of temperatures with similar
viabilities and are not in agreement with previous Roanoke River studies showing
optimum egg viabilities in the 17-200 C range.

Table 16. Striped bass spawning and egg viability related to water temperature
during spawning season, Roanoke River, N. C., 1977-1981

Temperature Number of Number of Percent
Range OC non-viable eggs viable eggs viable eggs

10.3-11.9 1 0 0.00

12.0-13.6 98 53 35.09
13.7-15.3 1,736 1,138 39.60
15.4-17.0 7,465 6,158 45.21
17.1-18.7 3,826 4,385 53.40
18.8-20.4 3,516 4,414 55.66
20.5-22.1 761 743 49.40
22.2-23.8 255 267 51.1-5

Total 17,658 17,158 49.28

SAMPLING OF YOUNG-OF-YEAR STRIPED BASS IN ALBEMARLE SOUND

Annual sampling to determine the survival and relative abundance of young-of-
year striped bass has been conducted in Albemarle Sound from 1955 to 1981. The
sampling area is located in western Albemarle Sound extending eastward approximately
12 miles. Seven permanent sampling stations have been selected and demarcated by
some fixed land feature. These locations are as follows:

Station No. 1 - Black Walnut Point
Station No. 2 - East of Edenton Bay
Station No. 3 - North side between bridges
Station No. 4 - North side east of N. C. 32 bridge
Station No. 5 - South side east of N. C. 32 bridge
Station No. 6 - South side between bridges
Station No. 7 - Albemarle Beach
The sampling area and station locations are illustrated in Figure 2.
A 5.49 m balloon trawl is used to collect the samples. The samples collected
early in the sampling period are taken with a 6.35 mm stretched mesh cod end, while
later samples are collected with a 12.7 mm stretched mesh cod end. Each trawl
sample is of 15 minutes duration at a towing speed of approximately 2.75 mi per
hour. The trawling depth varies between 6 and 10 feet. Wind direction and velocity,
depth, air and water temperatures, and the time started and stopped are recorded
for each sample. All striped bass are retained for growth information. Other
species captured are identified, counted, measured (a sub-sample of 30 if the total
number exceeds that), and released.
The mean number of young-of-year striped bass per 15-minute trawl in Albemarle
Sound is listed-by year (1977-1981) and station in Table 17. These data show that
there has been a severe decline in the number of young-of-year striped bass collected
over the 1977-1981 time period. Previously, in 1975 and 1976 the mean catches of
10.80 and 10.52 specimens per trawl were considered average in abundance. The drop to
3.63 young-of-year striped bass per trawl in 1977 indicates below average recruitment
for this year class. The next four years, 1978, 1979, 1980, and 1981 have been the

MM mm@m@mm MEN

Chowan
Ri ver

US 17
Edenton
Bay
N "- @3 4

N and S
Railroad NC 32

ALBEMARLE SOUND

NC 45

Roanoke
River

Nautical Miles
Trawling aw
Station
1 2 3

Figure 2. Map-of the sampling area and station locations for young-of-year striped bass in the
western end of Albemarle Sound, N. C.

Table 17. Mean number of young-of-year striped bass caught per 15-minute
trawl by year and station in Albemarle Sound, N. C., 1977-1981

Station
Year I II III IV VI VII Total

1977 5.62 2.38 4.50 0.43 4.43 4.50 3.25 3.63
1978 0.25 1.88 0.75 0.29 0.00 0.25 0.62 0.59
1979 0.57 2.29 0.00 0.29 0.14 0.00 0.57 0.55
1980 1.63 0.75 0.38 0.00 0.00 0.38 0.50 0.46
1981 0.00 0.04 0.00 0.04 0.00 0.00 0.02 0.09

Mean 0.24 0.22 0.17 0.03 0.12 0.14 0.14 1.06

poorest four-year span of recruitment recorded over the 27-year duration of the project.
These four years (1978-1981) averaged 0.59, 0.55, 0.46, and 0.09 young-of-year striped
bass per trawl. The only other year in which the mean number of young-of-year striped
bass occurred in this low range was 1958 when the mean number per trawl was 0.15.
This low level of recruitment in 1958 was attributed to a very high rate of river
discharge which persisted throughout the entire spawning season.
The data in Table 17 also indicate that Stations I and II were the most productive
areas from 1977 to 1981 for the collection of young-of-year striped bass. Station I
(Black Walnut Point) has been the most productive trawling station for young-of-year
striped bass throughout the duration of the project. Since this station is located
at the mouth of the Chowan River, the influence of the discharge from this river on
young-of-year striped bass should be investigated.

Trawl Data for Other Species Collected with Striped Bass
in Albemarle Sound

In Table 18 the number of fishes collected by bottom trawl in Albemarle Sound,
N. C. are listed by species and year from 1977 through 1981. The species most
commonly collected in the balloon trawl for this five-year period has been the white
perch, with 32,868 specimens. The spot has ranked second in abundance with a catch
of 5,463 fish while the blueback herring ranked third with a catch of 3,949 specimens.
Anchovies were the fourth most abundant species with 1,658 specimens, and croakers were
ranked fifth with 1,025 landed.

Table 18. Numbers of fishes collected by bottom trawl in Albemarle Sound, N. C.
by species and year, 1977-1981

No. trawls 54 54 49 56 56

Year 1977 1978 1979 1980 1981 Total

Species
Morone saxatilis (y-o-y) 196 32 27 26 5 286
Acipenser oxyrhynchus 2 3 5
Alosa aestivalis 635 2,320 98 896 3,949
Alosa mediocris 30 16 46
Alosa pseudoharengus 278 319 130 82 809
Alosa sapidissima 63 4 67
Anchoa hepsetus 3 3
Anchoa mitchilli 325 170 48 201 914 1,658
Anguilla rostrata 20 15 7 42
Brevoortia tvrannu,5 7 31 4 42
CitharichthVs spilopterus 1 1 2
CVprinus carpio 4 9 5 9 27
Dorosoma cepedianum 5 2 4 11
Esox americanus americanus 2 2
Esox niger 2 2
Etheostoma nigrum 51 42 8 101
Etheostoma olmstedi 5 19 24
Eucinostomus gula I I
Ictalurus catus 159 142 308 64 13 686
Ictalurus furcatus 8 8
Ictalurus melas 2 2

Ictalurus nebulosus 1 1 2
Ictalurus punctatus 75 65 406 134 88 768
Lagodon rhomboides 2 2
Leiostomus xanthurus 4,238 38 242 43 902 5,463
Lepoznis gibbosus 16 52 12 80
Leponzis macrochirus 16 2 18
Lepomis SP. 3 3
Micropogonias undulatus 623 30 83 11 238 1,025
Micropterus salmoides 1 1
Morone americana 3,565 12,938 8,607 4,230 3,528 32,868
Morone saxatili@ (yearling) 22 5 5 5 37
Moxostoma coregonus 3 3
Moxostoma SP. 1 2 3
Mugil curema 1 1
Notropis hudsonius 16 212 232 26 486
Notzopis SP. 2 2
Paralichthys lethostigma 15 4 5 17 41
Perca flavescens 51 275 429 ill 12 878
Pomatomus saltatrix 1 1
Pomoxis nigromaculatus 3 3
Trinectes maculatus @19 116 287 70 15 707
Total finfish 50,165
Callinectes sapidus 485 28 73 544 1,130
Grand Total 51,295

The bottom trawl catch by species and mean number per trawl are contained in
Table 19 for long-term comparisons with data collected before 1977.
Also, Table 20 lists the percentage of total catch in the balloon trawl for
each species, and white perch composed 65.52% of the total fish catch. Spot
accounted for 10.89% of the catch, blueback herring were 7.87%, anchovies were 3.31%,
and croaker were 2.04% of the fish caught. These five species accounted for almost
90% of the total number of fish collected in the balloon trawl.

BALLOON TRAWL COLLECTIONS IN THE ROANOKE RIVER AND MIDDLE RIVER, N. C., 1978

During 1978, bottom trawling, day surface trawling, and night surface trawling
were conducted in the Roanoke River and in the Middle River which is a delta tributary
of the Roanoke Ri.ver. A total of 98 six-minute bottom trawls were taken in the
Roanoke River, and 17 six-minute bottom trawls were pulled in Middle River. These
data are contained in Table 21, and confirm earlier trawling observations that
young-of-year striped bass are not present in the delta river areas during the first
summer of life. White perch was the most abundant species collected, and a total
of 7,354 white perch were caught. The 'spot-tail shiner (Notropis hudsonius) ranked
second in abundance (3,358), and the white catfish rated third in abundance, total-
ling 3,201 specimens.
A total of 72 day surface trawl collections were taken in the Roanoke River,
and 12 day surface trawl collections were made in the Middle River. The blueback
herring was the most abundant species coTlected (246), while spot-tail shiners
(Notropis hudsonius) and silvery minnows (Hybogmathus nuchalis) ranked second and
third, with 135 and 122 specimens respectively (Table 22).
Twenty-fou@ night surface trawls were taken in the Roanoke River. Alewives
predominated in the catch with 338 specimens, while silvery minnows and blueback
herring followed with 239 and 159 fish respectively (Table 23).

Table 19. Mean catch per trawl by species in western Albemarle Sound,
Year 1977-1981 1977 1978 1979 1980 1981

No trawls 54 54 49 56 56

Species

Morone saxatilis (y-o-y) 3.63 0.59 0.55 0.46 0.09
Acipenser oxyrhynchus 0.04 0.05
Alosa aestivalis 11.76 42.96 2.00 16.00

Alosa mediocris 0.61 0.29
Alosa pseudoharengus 5.15 5.91 2.65 1.46
Alosa sapidissinia 1.29 0.07
Anchoa hepsetus 0.05
Anchoa mitchilli 6.02 3.15 0.98 3.59 16.32
Anguilla rostrata 0.37 0.28 0.14
Brevoortia tyrannus 0.13 0.55 0.07
Citharichthys spilopterus 0.02 0.02
Cyprinus carpio 0.07 0.17 0.10 0.16
Dorosoma cepedianum 0.09 0.04 0.07
Esox americanus americanus 0.04

Esox niger 0.04
Etheostoma nigrum 0.94 0-.86 0.14
Etheostoma olmstedi 0.09 0.35
Eucinostomus gula 0.02
Ictalurus Catus 2.94 2.63 6.29 1.14 0.23

Ictalurus furcatus 0.16

Ictalurus melas 0.04

Ictalurus nebulosus 0.02 0.02
Ictalurus punctatus 1.39 1.20 8.29 2.39 1.57
Lagodon --homboides 0.94
Leiostomus xanthurw 78.48 0.70 4.94 0.77 16.11
Lepomis gibbosus 0.30 1.06 0.21
Lepomis macrochirus 0.30 0.04

Leponus SP. 0.06

Table 19. (continued)

Year 1977 1978 1979 1980 1981

No.trawls 54 54 49 56 56

Species

Mic.ropogonias undulatus 11.54 1.30 1.69 0.20 4.25
micropterus salmoides 0.02
marone americana 66.02 239.59 175.65 75.54 63.00
morone saxatilis (yearling) 0.41 0.09 0.06 0.09 0.09
moxostoma co-regonus
moxostoma sp. 0.02 0.04
mugil curema 0.02
Notropis hudsonius 0.30 3.03 4.73 0.46
Notropis SP. '0.04
Paralichthys lethostigma 0.28 0.08 0.09 0.30
Perca flavescens 0.94 5.09 8.76 1.98 0.21
p0matomus saltatrix 0.02
Pomoxis niyromaculatus 0.06
Trinectes maculatus 4.06 2.15 5.86 1.25 0.27

callinectes sapidus 8.98 0.52 1.49 9.71

Table 20. Catch composition by species and mean catch per trawl in Albemarle
Sound, N. C., 1977-1981 (269 trawls)

Total number Mean catch Percentage of
Species collected per trawl total catch

Morone saxatilis (y-o-y) 286 1.06 0.57
Morone americana 32,868 122.19 65.52
Leiostomus xanthurus 5,463 20.31 10.89
Alosa aestivalis 3,949 14.68 7.87
Anchoa mitchilli 1,658 6.16 3.31
Micropogonias undulatus 1,025 3.81 2.04
erca flavescens 878 3.26 1.75
Alosa pseudoharengus 809 3.01 1.61
P

Ictalurus punctatus 768 2.86 1.53
Trinectes maculatus 707 2.63 1.41
Ictalurus catus 686 2.55 1.37
Notropis hudsonius 486 1.81 0.97
Etheostoma nigrum 101 0.38 0.20
Lepomis gibbosus 80 0.30 0.16
Alosa sapidissima 67 0.25 0.13
Alosa mediocris 46 0.17 0.09
Anguilla rostrata 42 0.16 0.08
Brevoortia tyrannus 42 0.16 0.08
Paralichthys lethostigma 41 0.15 0.08
Morone saxatilis (yearling) 37 0.14 0.07
Cyprinus carpio 27 0.10 0.05
Etheostoma olmstedi 24 0.09 0.05
Lepomis macroclzirus 18 0.07 0.04
Dorosoma cepedianum 11 0.04 0.02
Ictalurus furcatus 8 0.03 0.02
Acipenser oxyrhynchus 5 0.02 0.01
Anchoa hepsetus 3 0.01 0.006
Lepomis sp. 3 0.01 0.006
Moxostoma coregonus 3 0.01 0.006

Table 20 (continued)

Total number Mean catch Percentage of
Species collected per trawl total catch

Moxostoma sp. 3 0.01 0.006
Pornoxis nigromaculatus 3 0.01 0.006
Citharichthys spilopterus 2 0.007 0.004
Esox americanus americanus 2 0.007 0.004
Esox niger 2 0.007 0.004
ictalurus melas 2 0.007 0.004
ictalurus nebulosus 2 0.007 0.004
Logodon rhomboides 2 0.007 0.004
Notropis sp. 2' 0.007 0.004
Encinostomus quia 1 0.004 0.002
Micropterus salmoides 1 0.004 0.002
mugil Cureffe 1 0.004 0.002
Pomatornus saltatrix 1 0.004 0.002

Total finfish 50,165
Callinectes sapidus 1,130 4.20

Table 21. Species and numbers of fish collected by bottom trawl in the Roanoke
River and Middle River, N. C., 1978

River Roanoke River Middle River

No. trawls 98 17

Species No. fish caught No. fish caught Total

Alosa aestivalis 2 7 9
Alosa pseudoharengus 189 155 344
Anguilla rostrata 3 3
Cyprinus carpio 34 3 37
Dorosorna cepedianum 17 17
Esox niger 1 1 2
Etheostoma nigrum 213 256 469
Etheostoma olmstedi 3 1 4
Hybognathus nuchalis 504 36 540
Ictalurus catus 3,109 92 3,201
Ictalurus melas 3 4 7

Ictalurus natalis 5 1 6

Ictalurus nebulosus 52 52
Ictalurus punctatus 452 5 457
Lepisosteus osseus 9 2 11
Lepomis gibbosus 33 2 35
Lepomis gulosus 2 2
Lepomis macrochirus 160 15 175
Micropterus salmoides 26 3 29
morone americana 7,05.8 296 7,354
Moxostoma anisurum 64 9 73
moxostoma coregonus 47 14 61
moxostoma SP. 2 1 3
Notropis hudsonius 2,840 518 3,358
Noturus insignis 4 4
Perca flavescens 28 13 41
Pomaxis nigromaculatus 115 11 126
Trinectes maculatus 22 12 34

Total 14,997 1,457 16,454

Table 22. Species and number of fish collected by day surface trawl in
the Roanoke River and Middle River, N. C., 1978

River Roanoke River Middle River

No. trawls 72 12

Species No. fish caught No. fish caught Total

Alosa aestivalis 200 46 246
Alosa pseudoharengus 39 7 46
Brevoortia tyrannus 1 1
Dorosoma cepedianum 4 4
Etheostoma nigrum 1 1
Hybognathus nuchalis ill 11 122
Ictalurus catus 5 5
Lepisosteus osseus 1 1
Lepomis gibbosus 2 2
Lepomis macrochirus 1 1
Morone americana 6. 3 9

Moxostoma anisurum 3 2 5
Notemigonus arysoleucas 2 2
Notropis analostanus 1 1
Notropis hudsonius 29 106 135
Unidentified species 20 3 23

Total 424 180 604

Table 23. Species and number of fish collected by night surface trawl in
the Roanoke River, N. C., 1978 (24 trawls)

Species Number fish caught

.Alosa aestivalis 159
Alosa pseudoharengus 338
Brevoortia tyrannus 13
Dorosoma cepedianum 66
Hybognathus nuchalis 239
Ictalurus Catus 5

Morone americana 7
Notropis hudsonius 5

Total 832

STRIPED BASS TAGGING STUDIES

Since 1956 striped bass have been tagged in the Roanoke River to provide
information pertaining to population size, rate of capture by commercial and suort
fishermen, survival and mortality estimates, movements and migrations, and growth.
Most of the tagging is performed in the lower section of the Roanoke River, and
the fish are obtained by working in cooperation with commercial fishermen. Striped
bass have been tagged from a variety of commercial gear such as set gill nets,
drift gill nets, trotlines, and a large haul seine. In recent years the set gill
net has been the principal gear utilized. The tagging has also been conducted
from a number of locations such as Daley Hill, Jamesville, Williamston, and Hamilton.
In recent years the majority of the tagging has been concentrated above Williamston,
between river miles 41 and 50.
In 1981 the use of anchor gill nets to catch striped bass in the Roanoke River
during April and May was banned by the North Carolina Marine Fisheries Commission.
Consequently, the Division of Marine Fisheries has permitted our personnel to set
gi I I nets i n the Roanoke Ri ver at Wi 11 i amston f or the purposes of the mark and re-
capture study. The number of striped bass tagged in the Roanoke River for the years
1977 to 1981 are listed below in Table 24:

Table 24. Number of striped bass tagged in the Roanoke River, 1977-1981

Number of striped bass
Year tagged
1977 334
1978 452
1979 385
1980 77
1981 156

These data in Table 24 indicate a decrease in the number of striped bass
tagged during the 1980 and 1981 seasons. The reasons for this decline is that
very low water flows prevailed during both of these years, and these low water
discharges limited the number of migrating fish and also made gill netting less
productive. A reduced number of spawning fish could have also limited the catch
of striped bass.
The cumulative rate of exploitation for striped bass in Albemarle Sound and
the Roanoke River, N. C. for the years 1977-1981 is presented in Table 25. This
rate of return for the past five years has been less than the long term average,
and the low rates of tag returns for 1980 and 1981 have contributed considerably
to this decline. Both of these years were characterized by small numbers of fish
tagged, and decreased recovery effort.

Table 25. Cumulative rate of exploitation for striped bass in Roanoke River and
Albemarle Sound, N. C. 1977-1981

No. striped Number Percent
Year bass tagged recovered recovered

1977 334 45 13.47

1978 452 96 21.24

1979 385 63 16.36

1980 77 9 11.69

1981 156 10 6.41

POPULATION ABUNDANCE

The estimated number of striped bass in the-spawning migration up the Roanoke
River has been made annually since 1955. Both the Petersen (1896) and Ricker (1940)
methods have been used to derive the population estimation. However the Petersen (1896)
method has been.used for the 1977-1981 data. The population estimation for the five-
year period from 1977 through 1981 is given in Table 26.

Table 26.. Estimated number of striped bass in the spawning population in the
Roanoke River, N. C., 1977-1981

Estimated number
Year of striped bass

1977 347,584
1978 354,152
1979 313,736
1980 100,192
1981 34,032

5-year average = 229,939

These data indicate that the striped bass spawning population was estimated to
be fairly abundant in 1977, 1978, and 1979 when the estimations were in excess of
300,000 fish per year. However, the spawning estimation declined considerably to
100,192 striped bass in 1980 and to 34,032 striped bass in 1981. Two possible
reasons for these declines are decreased numbers of striped bass in the spawning run,
and the adverse effects of low river discharges on the migration behavior of these
fish.

SUMMARY

1. The North Carolina striped bass commercial landings exceeded 1,000,000 pounds
for 10 years (1967-1976). In 1977 the catch declined to 572,000 pounds, in-
creased to 698,000 pounds in 1978, 614,000 pounds in 1979, and then dropped to
473,000 and 417,000 pounds respectively in 1980 and 1981.
2. North Carolina commercial striped bass landings from 1977-1981 showed the
greatest cumulative monthly totals during March, followed by February and
November. Generally, striped bass landings are concentrated from October
through April with decreased catches in May and September. The landings during
the summer months are minimal.
3. Roanoke River commercial striped bass landings were approximately average in
abundance in 1977 (10,465), above average in 1978 (16,753), and then declined
in 1979, 1980, and 1981 to 9,798, 2,286, and 349 fish respectively. The 1981
decreased landings resulted from a change in commercial fishing regulations.
4. The commercial striped bass season in the Roanoke River in 1977-1981 was con-
centrated from the last week in March through the first week in May.
5. The 1977-1980 Roanoke River striped bass commercial catch was landed mainly by
anchor gill nets and striped bass drift aill nets. Both of these devices were
prohibited by regulations enacted in 1981. Catch and effort data for other
gears are presented.
6. The Roanoke River commercial striped bass fishery was concentrated in the
Jamesville and Williamston areas of the Roanoke River during the 1977-1981
time period. I
7. Albemarle Sound striped bass catches declined in 1977, and the successive
landings during the 5-year period, 1977-1981, were the lowest recorded for
the past 20 years.
8. Rod and reel striped bass catches at Weldon, N. C. during the 1977-1981 inter-
val declined from the long-term average. High water discharge in 1978 and low
water flows in 1980 and 1981 may have contributed to the reduced rod and reel
catches.
9. The catch and effort data for striped bass caught by bow nets (drifting) in-
dicated 2.,054 fish caught in 1977 for a c.u.e. of 8.12. The drift bow net

catches were reduced in 1978, 1979, and 1980 (286, 835, and 415 fish caught
respectively). The use of the bow net was prohibited in 1981.
10. The catch and effort data for striped bass caught by bow nets (fights) in the
Roanoke-River indicated that 1977 had the highest catch (8,769 fish). The
catch was reduced considerably in 1978 (1,051 fish) because of high water, and
further reduction occurred in 1979 and 1980 (5,957 and 5,451 fish respectively).
The use of bow nets to capture striped bass in "fights" was prohibited in 1981.
11. The estimated sport catch of striped bass by all methods in the entire Roanoke
River declined from 32,983 fish in 1977 to only 3,905 fish in 1981. Low river
flows in 1980 and 1981 were associated with a considerable reduction in the
sport catch to 15,239 and 3,905 fish respectively.
12. The estimated number of striped bass eggs spawned in the Roanoke River was con-
sidered to be in an acceptable range during 1977, 1978, and 1979 (1.776; 1.691;
1.613 billion respectively). However, during 1980 and 1981 the estimates
declined to the lowest totals since 1965 (0.87 and 0.34 billion).
13. Striped bass egg viability which decreased in 1975 and 1976 continued in this
decli ne from 1976 to 1980. The egg viability increased to 73.70% in 1981.
14. The 1977-1981 egg viability and water temperatures were not indicative of the
relationship existing in prior years.
15. The mean number of young-of-year striped bass caught by trawling in Albemarle
Sound nursery areas declined in 1977 to 3.63 fish per trawl. Young-of-year
striped bass were conspicuously scarce in 1978, 1979, 1980, and 1981 when the
c.u.e. was only 0.59, 0.55, 0.46, and 0.09 fish respectively. These were the
lowest averages (with one exception)'attained during the 27-year history of the
study.
16. Trawling @ata for other fish species were tabulated for Albemarle Sound from
1977 to 1981. White perch was the most abundant species, composing 65% of the
total catch. Other abundant species were spot, blueback herring, bay anchovies,
and croaker.
17. Day bottom trawls, day surface trawls, and night surface trawls were taken in
the Roanoke and Middle Rivers to determine distribution of fishes in the delta
area. Striped bass were not collected. The bottom trawls collected numerous
white perch, spot-tail shiners, and white catfish. The day surface trawl col-
lections were mainly composed of blueback herring, spot-tail shiners, and silvery

minnows, and blueback herring.
18. Striped bass tagging studies were conducted in the Roanoke River during 1977
to 1981. A total of 334, 452, 385, 77, and 156 fish were tagged. The reduced
numbers tagged in 1980 and 1981 were probably the result of record low water
flows.
19. The cumulative rate of exploitation of striped bass in the Roanoke River and
Albemarle Sound from 1977 to 1981 was 13.47, 21.24, 16.36, 11.69, and 6.41
percent respectively.
20. The estimated number of striped bass in the Roanoke River spawning migration
was 347,584; 354,152; 313,736; 100,192; and 34,032 fish for the respective
years 1977-1981.

LITERATURE CITED

Carnes, W. C. 1965. Survey and classification of the Roanoke River watershed
North Carolina, N. C. Wildlife Res. Comm., Raleigh, N. C., 17 p.
Fish, Frederic F. 1959. Report of the steering committee for Roanoke River
studies, 1955-1958. U. S. Public Health Service, Raleigh, N. C., 279 p.
Petersen, C. G. J. 1896. The yearly immigration of young plaice into the
Limfjord from the German Sea, etc. Rep. Dan. Biol. Stat. 6:1-48.
Ricker, W.E. 1940. Relation of "catch per unit effort" to abundance and rate
of exploitation. J. Fish. Res. Bd. Can. V 5(l): 43-70.

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