TARBORO —
Shad season started early this year, so it only stands to reason that it would end early, too, and indeed it has. We had about seven good weeks of a fantastic shad bite in the Tar River at Tarboro this year, starting the last week in January.
I think it was Sunday, Jan. 29 that Henry Knight caught the season’s first shad, and received a nice prize package to boot for his effort. February was shad city a go-go just about every day. Some days better than others, but it seemed like we caught fish every day in the month of February.
On a personal note, I want to thank my shad hole buddies for all their help and assistance this season. I don’t have the physical tools these days to do some of the things necessary to be a complete fisherman. Everyone is so kind and helpful, and go out of their way to assist me, and make my fishing experience pleasant, and successful. If I start naming names I will probably leave somebody important out, so just allow me to extend a big thank you to all of you. You guys are a special breed, and I appreciate each and every one of you.
The big story for me this shad season was the dominance of the white shad everywhere. Honestly, I think I caught more white than hickory this year, and that has never happened in the 11 years I have been pursuing shad in Tarboro. In fact, I think I caught more white this year than all the previous years combined. It was that good! I understand the Roanoke River crowd at Weldon was also pleasantly surprised at their excellent white shad bite, too.
Hotspot of the Week – The Roanoke River at Weldon is where the shad are right now. I had an excellent day Wednesday. The river is almost at flood stage, and hard fishing, but the rewards are great if you locate them. It was my third stop before I found fish. I fished all day and caught 56 hickorys and nine white. A few of the big “hicks” would have been money fish in last week’s TASS Shad Tournament.
Report of a world record 7-pound crappie caught in Kerr Lake has reached my inbox. Seven Pounds? That’s a big’un! I will verify, and clue you in next week.
Shad Hole Shout-Out - Joey Lassister is our man of the hour this week. Joey, 53, hails from Bethel, and has been fishing since he was a pup of 9 years old.
Joey loves to bottom fish, and usually the shad rig slingers and the bottom guys don’t get along because bottom fisherman limit the space shad fishermen need to operate in. However, a good mutual understanding and respect exists between Joey and the shad chasers. We give each other room to do our thing. As a matter of fact, the shad hole crowd supplies Joey with bait. Those bottom feeders just love chunks of fresh White Shad.
Errors and Omissions – I hate to admit it, but I committed several boo-boo’s in my shad tournament results article on Monday. The total number of tournament participants was 80, and the cash and prize payout was over $3,000.
I also failed to thank and recognize Pizza Inn of Tarboro, and Caroline’s Creations in my sponsor salute.
Catching fish? Tell us about it. Better yet, send us a picture with all the details. We love to hear from you at CarolinaAngler@Gmail.com.
See you on the water, my friend!
Tight Lines
Thank you, fellow shadsters, for a great year
- Tight Lines
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Battle Park is a cornucopia of nature
Fifty-seven acre Battle Park, in the heart of Rocky Mount, is named after the Battle
family of Tarboro, founders of Rocky Mount Mills. Water-powered, the mill dam was hewn of the rocks of the Great Falls, past the westernmost point of Edgecombe County. -
Take a kid fishing this summer
As you put the final touches on your summer vacation plans, consider a fishing outing for the youngsters. They might not remember or appreciate that expensive beach cottage rental, or that high-dollar meal at that trendy waterfront restaurant, but I would bet a pretty penny they will recall every detail of a fun-filled family fishing experience.
Just about anywhere you chose to go this summer will offer fishing -
Shad Season in Review
All things considered, 2013 was a good shad season, thoroughly enjoyed the fishing activity and usual camaraderie among shad fishing friends. Shad fishing to me is about so much more than just catching fish. It’s a total package of enjoyment as it captivates and dominates my life February through May.
Wayne Harrell kicked off the season winning the first shad contest catching his hickory shad on a cold 19-degree Saturday morning, February 2.
The shad hole on East River Road in Tarboro was a little disappointing this year. Untimely flood waters might have limited our regular peak run. Fish were caught and we had some good days, but not the action we have experienced in past years. -
Banner Day at Battle Park
Sunday was Mother’s Day. I am not a mother, but I played one in a school play years ago, so I figured that entitled me to go fishing on Mother’s Day. Need an excuse or rationalization to go fishing? Check with me, I’ve got plenty!
After suffering through 2-3 days of a rain induced swollen, unfishable Tar River at Battle Park in Rocky Mount, it was jackpot time on Sunday. Without a doubt, I had my best white shad fishing day ever, fishing from sunrise to early evening. Action was good all day, with a little lull for about 2-hours in the heat of the afternoon.
I am proud to report to you that I enjoyed a 50-fish day. I caught a personal best 46 white shad, 3 hickory shad, and foul-hooked a very angry, upset 3-foot gar. I thought I had two large white shad, or maybe a big rockfish, so I was a little surprised to see Mr. Gar. It was like reeling in an uncooperative 2x4 piece of lumber. -
NCWRC enforcement officers doing a great job
North Carolina Wildlife Resource Commission has two enforcement officers assigned to each county. That’s 200 dedicated, educated, and highly trained individuals protecting our North Carolina environment and natural resources. To become an enforcement officer applicant, one must participate in a highly competitive selection process. A typical candidate is required to pass extensive background and psychological screening. Also included is a vigorous 19-week training academy that is patterned after a military boot camp, with an emphasis on physical fitness.
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Tight Lines declares Ginger Perry of Nashville the shad queen
One of my favorite places to bank fish is the boat ramp at Battle Park in Rocky Mount. I have met a lot of interesting people there. Three or four times this season, I have watched this amazing lady, Ginger Perry, fishing with her friend, Big Kelly, for white shad. Simply put, she is one good angler! She casts and retrieves like a pro, and always catches her fair share of fish. Maybe a few more than her fair share! This lady can flat-out fish!
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Time for the John Cherry Rockfish Rodeo on the Tar river
Tarboro Association of Saltwater Sportsman (TASS) presents the annual John Cherry Rockfish Rodeo on the Tar on Saturday, April 27th. Entry fee is $100 per boat.
Registration and information is available daily at Roberson & Dupree Shoe Store, Main Street, Tarboro. The absolute registration deadline is Friday, April 26, by 8 p.m., at the boat landing on River Road, or when the maximum limit 40 boats have been signed-up. Attendance at the Captain’s meeting Friday night, 7 p.m. at the boat landing on River Road, is highly recommended. Rules will be read, questions answered, and you will receive your Captain’s Bag, tournament t-shirt, and other goodies. Each boat is allowed to weigh-in 2 of their largest rockfish, as chosen by the Captain. -
Sign-up this Saturday for John Cherry Rockfish Rodeo
One of the TASS premier events that local anglers always enjoy is the annual John Cherry Rockfish Rodeo. Registration is limited to the first 40 boats. Full grown men, me included, will be standing in line like giddy teeny-boppers looking concert tickets early Saturday morning waiting for Roberson & Dupree Shoe Store to open at 9 am to plunk down that registration fee.
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Bottoms Up! Greg Bottoms Wins TASS Shad Tournament
To my knowledge, Greg Bottoms does not smoke or drink, but he does have another habit, and an enviable one at that. Greg wins fishing tournaments. He won the Fall Speckled Trout Tournament, and last week claimed top honors in the shad tournament. Obviously, the man knows his way around a rod & reel. Greg is a skilled angler, and a nice guy, deserving of that success.
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Shad Tournament participants weighing-in some good fish
All indications are that this will be a banner year for the 12th Annual TASS Hickory
Shad Tournament. The timing is perfect because the shad “bite” has turned on
considerably everywhere. At the halfway point through the week-long tournament, the leader board is already showing some impressive fish weights. Charles Strickland leads the top tier adult category with a healthy 2.56 Hickory Shad. That will be a hard “Hick” to beat! - More Tight Lines Headlines
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Battle Park is a cornucopia of nature
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