This year’s NC striped bass season is set.
Striped bass season opens
February 17,2006
This year?s striped bass season is set. The lower Roanoke opens on March 1, which is earlier than in the past, and it will be open until April 15.
The upper Roanoke will open March 15 until April 30.The lower Roanoke River is defined as the Roanoke River and its tributaries downstream from the U.S. 258 bridge near Scotland Neck to the Albemarle Sound, including the Cashie, Middle and Eastmost rivers.
The upper Roanoke River is defined as the Roanoke River and its tributaries upstream from the U.S. 258 bridge near Scotland Neck to Roanoke Rapids? lake dam.
The daily creel limit consists of two stripers in a slot limit, which will be between 18 inches and 22 inches. No fish between 22 inches and 27 inches can be kept, but you can keep one fish over 27 inches.
The commission reminds anglers to use a single barbless hook or a lure with a single barbless hook when fishing in the upper Roanoke River (above N.C. 58) from April 1 through June 30.
Anglers can make hooks barbless by crimping down the barb with a set of pliers. The best hook to use is a single barbless circle hook. The circle hook, 99 percent of the time, hooks the fish in the jaw, which makes for a clean quick release.
The commission established the barbless regulation in 1997 to minimize mortality of striped bass.
|
