SURVEY SUMMARY
NCWRC - Inland Fish Division - Coastal Region
Roanoke River Striped Bass Spawning Stock Assessment, 2023
NEED
The Albemarle-Roanoke (A-R) stock of Striped Bass is jointly managed by the North Carolina
Wildlife Resources Commission (NCWRC) and the North Carolina Division of Marine Fisheries
(NCDMF). The NCWRC is responsible for Striped Bass management in the Roanoke River
Management Area (RRMA), while NCDMF manages Striped Bass in the Albemarle Sound
Management Area (ASMA). Data from both agencies are combined with long term population
trends to calculate benchmark values for fishing mortality (F) and spawning stock biomass
(SSB). The annual survey conducted by the NCWRC allows for the assessment of the spawning
portion of the A-R stock at both the agency, and multi-agency levels.
OBJECTIVES
1. Characterize the spawning portion of the A-R stock in the RRMA by estimating relative
abundance, age-structure, and size-structure of Striped Bass collected on the spawning
grounds.
2. Update long-term data sets that are used to analyze trends and provide management
recommendations.
METHODS
Personnel: Christopher Smith and Deon Kerr, District 1 Fisheries Biologists; Jeremy McCargo,
Anadromous Research Coordinator
Waterbody: Striped Bass were collected from their historic spawning grounds near Weldon, NC.
Sampling stations were located on main and secondary river channel habitats. Three of the
five strata were sampled each day, and strata selection was dependent on flow conditions.
Two sites were selected within each stratum, for a total of six sampling sites per day.
Fish Sampling Gear: Smith-Root APEX Boat-Mounted Electrofishing, High Frequency (60 Hz),
approximately 4,500 W output.
Other Gear Utilized: YSI 2030 PRO water quality meter for water temperature (°C), dissolved
oxygen (mg/L and % saturation), conductivity (pS/cm), and salinity (ppt).
Species of Primary Interest: Striped Bass
Sample Date(s): April 03, 10, 18, 24 and May 01, 08, 15, 2023.
Funding Source: Federal Aid in Sport Fish Restoration and agency license receipts.
Project Name in BIODE Fish: Roanoke River Anadromous Fish Stock Assessment
Citation:
Smith, C. A., D. K. Kerr., and J. W. McCargo. 2023. Roanoke River Striped Bass Spawning Stock
Assessment, 2023. North Carolina Wildlife Resources Commission, Federal Aid in Sport Fish
Restoration, survey summary, Raleigh.
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