Capt Greg Voliva reports
1 person, 50 shad, less than 3 hours.
1907 Paulette Road Morehead City, NC 28557
252-671-3474 info@DownEastGuideService.com
My take
of course and I will try to be brief.
Striped
bass have evolved to maximize spawning success on their perspective
rivers. Egg size and buoyancy is
different on striped bass spawning on the flats of the Susquehanna vs the striped
bass eggs of the Roanoke River or those of native strain Neuse River striped
bass. Eggs of native strain Neuse River
striped bass are evolved to successfully hatch in the slower low flow waters of
the Neuse River vs the eggs from Roanoke River striped bass are more likely to successfully
hatch and reach larvae size in the higher flower waters of the Roanoke.
We have
dammed our rivers. Cape Fear River no
longer is viable for successful striped bass production because of locks and
dams. Despite years of stocking and
regulations, modifications of dams, etc, the biologists finally admitted that
striped bass will never be returned to historical levels on the Cape Fear. The stocking program has been abandoned there,
so no more striped bass on the Cape Fear once the current occupants die off.
On the
Neuse River (and Roanoke) , you have net problems, a lot of which have been resolved
with attendance requirements and the removal of large mesh nets. You also have a lot more recreational fishermen you have to
manage, but the reality is that not enough striped bass are being produced in
the first place.
Why?
Because we have plowed and paved our watersheds……not to mention the dams
which are in part to control flooding in fields. After WW 2 people came back from the war
and settled down. They cut trees and
converted forest land to fields, they built roads and dams and parking
lots. Look at New Bern, Kinston,
Goldsboro and Raleigh, all drain right into the Neuse River.
Water
once filtered by forests now runs off roofs
and roads in the rivers or evaporates from the drainage ponds of mega parking
lots. The flow has changed and striped
bass, among other anadromous fish, can no longer successfully support their numbers
at historically levels. Add any take
from nets or hooks further inhibits their ability to return to historic
levels.
I
reference historic levels because that is the legal benchmark or goal we are
trying to achieve. It will never happen. So we need to change our goals or allow supplemental
stocking during years in which spawning success is low.
As the
Roanoke River has demonstrated, when water flows are good, striped bass can be
very successful spawners. The idea was to let them naturally do their thing with
no stocking. But with no stocking,
after several years of poor spawning success, you end up with the draconian rules
now imposed on recreational fishermen, 4 day season of 1 fish.
So why
not stocking? They are considering it,
but the fish biologists are a bit gun shy after they stocked the native Neuse
River strain striped bass into extinction.
Remember we were talking about the difference in the eggs, well for
decades the state stocked fish spawned from Roanoke River stock into the Neuse River,
essentially polluting the gene pool with fish that produce eggs not suitable
for the Neuse River.
Another
opposition to any stocking is because stocking is funded with recreational
dollars, but the striped bass that get caught in nets don’t know that they are
only supposed to be caught by hooks.
Therefore the people with the hooks don’t see the point in stocking fish
that might get caught by someone not using a hook.
That sum
it up?
George
We raised a blue Marlin that
didn't eat catch one for two on sailfish one mahi mahi and four yellow fin
tuna
left the tuna biting
Bummer, that was always the treat at
the end of a great day fishing, bringing some home.
I'll think I'll sit this one out this year.
Thanks as always,
Hap
From: info@downeastguideservice.com
<info@downeastguideservice.com>
Sent: Sunday, January 29, 2023 2:54:49 PM
To:
Subject: RE: Roanoke River
Expect no keeper days.
Specifically they have a 2 day season before most of the
guides get there.
They may add another two days.
One fish per day
We are essentially telling folks that there is no season
Let me know if you would like to book a catch and release
trip
George
From:
Sent: Sunday, January 29, 2023 10:36 AM
To: info@downeastguideservice.com
Subject: RE: Roanoke River
Like to go during the harvest, but can’t find the dates.
Have you heard them yet?
Probably a Sunday/ Monday or Saturday/Sunday depending on
the dates.
Thanks!
From: info@downeastguideservice.com
<info@downeastguideservice.com>
Sent: Saturday, January 28, 2023 5:27 PM
To:
Subject: RE: Roanoke River
When would you like to go?
From:
Sent: Saturday, January 28, 2023 4:46 PM
To: info@downeastguideservice.com
Subject: RE: Roanoke River
Yes Sir,
Interested in a Roanoke River trip again.
Best Regards,
Henry
From: info@downeastguideservice.com
<info@downeastguideservice.com>
Sent: Saturday, January 28, 2023 4:42 PM
To: info@downeastguideservice.com
Subject: Roanoke River
We are getting our calendar together for the Roanoke River
(and drum fishing in August/September) .
I wanted to first circle back with those who fished with us
this past year and give them an opportunity to rebook.
Do you have an interest in coming back to the riva?
Many thanks for the consideration,
Capt. George Hughes Beckwith Jr.
252-671-3474
Down East Guide Service Inc.
1907 Paulette Rd.
Morehead City, NC 28557
The Lower Roanoke River is firing off right now and will
only get better over the next few months. We are seeing some good numbers of
Stripers and plenty of action. Manly throwing jigs and swim baits at
all depths and sometimes they will just about snatch the rod out of your
hand. Come and experience what the Lower Roanoke has to offer this time of
year.
sorry for the lack of reports this year, but it has been very busy.
Drum porn to follow
Actually double digit half days.
81 big drum releases for the Down East Guides yesterday
Matt got his with 2 releases, but that was just ahead of Kelly and just behind Tag a Long Dan who had 3 releases with his family team of Kathy, Mathew and first mate Merritt.
Nobody could catch Team Mobile East with the whole crew led by Capt. Gene to 6 tarpon releases for the day, starting with a double header and 4 releases by 8 am!