[cwrich99]

Are we required to use single barbless hooks the entire season on the Roanoke River?

I plan to use some live bait and have circle hooks for that. Obviously all my jig heads have a single hook and I can bend the barb down. But do I have to replace the treble hooks on my plugs with single hooks? If I even have any lures with treble hooks on them in the boat with me am I running the risk of a wildlife official nailing me?

Thanks for any input or a link to a clear description of the regulations.

 

[tcfisherman]

You dont have to have a single hook or barbless in the Jamesville area....Chris

 

[DW Fletcher]

If you go to Weldon you better replace those trebles with 1 single barbless hook per bait/lure. I keep plenty of others in the boat but if I have one tied on it has only 1 single hook.

 

[theredboat]

The upper part of the river you now need a single barbless hook. (you can mak a hook barbless by simply crimping down the barb). The upper part of the river is defined as upstream of the rt. 258 Bridge.

 

[CastFast]

no hook or lure restrictions @ williamston. I'm not sure but I dont think the keepers are up to Weldon yet. Thats why I fished williamston last weekend. I should've went further downstream toward Plymouth. I'm hoping williamston will be good by Sunday because I'm going to try to get out there again

 

[shemstreet]

This is what I found on the site:

"Striped Bass Season and Regulation Information
The entire Roanoke River Management Area is open to striped bass harvest from March 1 through April 30.

The Roanoke River Management Area includes the Roanoke River and tributaries from Roanoke Rapids Lake Dam downstream to Albemarle Sound, including the Cashie, Middle and Eastmost rivers.

The daily creel limit within the Roanoke River Management Area is two striped bass per person. The minimum length limit is 18 inches, and no striped bass between 22 and 27 inches may be possessed at any time. Only one striped bass larger than 27 inches can be included in the daily creel limit.

The Commission also encourages striped bass anglers to use small, non-offset circle hooks, preferably ones with the least amount of distance between the hook point and shank.

Studies show that striped bass caught on small, barbless circle hooks are usually hooked in the jaw, which means they have a much greater chance of survival after being released than fish hooked in the throat or gut."

Barbless Hook Regulation
April 1 - June 30 in Inland Waters of Roanoke River upstream of U.S. Highway 258 bridge, only a single barbless hook or lure with a single barbless hook (or hook with barb bent down) may be used.

Would be nice if both these sections were in the same place on the site, but looks like the guys saying barbless hooks required upstream of US 258 bridge have it right