Abundance and Viability of Striped Bass Eggs Spawned in the Roanoke River, North Carolina in 1991

Abstract

Striped bass spawning activity in the Roanoke River, North Carolina, was documented in 1991 by sampling for eggs at Barnhill’s Landing (River Mile 117), which is just downstream of the spawning grounds between the towns of Halifax (RM 120) and Weldon (RM 130). Egg sampling was conducted every four hours near the surface and bottom from 15 April to 14 June. Water quality and changes in instream flow caused by water releases from Roanoke Rapids Reservoir at RM 137 also were monitored every four hours. Results were compared to similar studies funded by the Albemarle-Pamlico Estuarine Study during the springs of 1988, 1989, and 1990. Objectives were: 1) to continue the uninterrupted egg study data base of W.W. Hassler beginning in 1959; 2) to identify potential sources of bias in Hassler’s egg production estimates; and 3) relate striped bass spawning activity to operation of the Roanoke Rapids hydroelectric dam upstream.