The North Carolina Wildlife Resources Commission (NCWRC) has suspended the season for harvesting striped bass by hook-and-line in the Roanoke River Management Area from 12:00 a.m. on Monday, March 9 through 11:59 p.m. on Wednesday, April 30, 2026. This includes the Roanoke River and its tributaries from Roanoke Rapids Dam downstream to the mouth of the river at the Albemarle Sound, as well as the Cashie, Middle and Eastmost rivers.
All striped bass caught in inland and joint waters of the Roanoke River Management Area, regardless of condition, shall be immediately returned to the waters where taken. From April 1 through June 30 in the Roanoke River upstream of U.S. Highway 258 Bridge, only a single barbless circle hook may be used when fishing with live or natural bait, and only a single barbless hook (either no barb or barb is bent downward) may be used with other tackle.
Despite reductions in harvest over the past four years, the Roanoke River striped bass population has shown little improvement. In 2025, NCWRC biologists observed a continuance of the declining trend in abundance of striped bass during the spawning grounds survey. Low abundance and the impacts of high mortality have resulted in poor spawning success over the past eight years, even when Roanoke River conditions were considered optimal for spawning.
NCWRC is working closely with the N.C. Division of Marine Fisheries (DMF) to address declines in the Roanoke River and Albemarle Sound striped bass stock.
NCWRC will assess the next striped bass harvest season prior to the March 1, 2027 opening. For more information, visit NCWRC’s striped bass species web page.