“Whenever someone says they’re heading to the river to swim, remind them to be extremely careful,” said Erwin police Chief Jonathan Johnson. “Even when the Cape Fear looks calm, it can be dangerous.” Dangerous enough to have claimed more lives than any other river in the state, except in the case of a hurricane.
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What kind of fish are in the Cape Fear River?
The Cape Fear River provides good fishing for largemouth bass, sunfish, catfish and American and hickory shad. Spring is the peak season for catching largemouth bass in the river. Largemouth bass up to 8 pounds have been caught in the river but usually range between 1½ to 3 pounds.
Where can I fish in the Cape Fear River?
Jordan Lake is one of North Carolina’s most productive fresh water fishery. There are seven main species of game fish including Largemouth Bass, Crappie, Striped Bass, Hybrids, Bream, Catfish, and White Perch. Shearon Harris Reservoir is a 4,151-acre impoundment in the upper part of the Cape Fear River basin.
Is the Cape Fear River fresh or saltwater?
The Cape Fear Estuary—a 35-mile section of the river between Wilmington and the Atlantic Ocean—features saline waters that are important habitats and breeding grounds for many saltwater animals, including fish, crabs, and shrimp.
Does Cape Fear River have alligators?
The Cape Fear River watershed is an incredibly rich and diverse ecosystem, home to a wide range of plant and animal life, including ancient cypress trees, alligators, otters, black bear, a large variety of birds and a host of fish species.
Are there sharks in the Cape Fear River?
WILMINGTON — Yes, there are sharks in the Cape Fear River.
Are there sturgeon in the Cape Fear River?
Both Atlantic and shortnose sturgeon, once abundant in the Cape Fear River, are listed as endangered. A fish passage structure at Lock and Dam No. 1 on the Cape Fear River allows migratory fish to swim upstream to spawn.
Are there trout in the Cape Fear River?
The Cape Fear River and its bays and tributaries typically hold speckled trout year-round. Unless there is an early cold snap that chills the water more than usual, the bite stays pretty aggressive into December, and the early forecast is for the weather to remain warm through Christmas.
Are there bass in the Cape Fear River?
Currently, the Cape Fear River black bass population is dominated by small fish with 78% of all largemouth bass collected smaller than the minimum legal size limit of 14 inches and 100% of all spotted bass smaller than the legal limit.
Are there red drum in the Cape Fear River?
Certain types of fish that are being consumed pose health risks, especially for children and pregnant people, researchers wrote. The most common types of fish being caught in the lower Cape Fear River and consumed, the study found, were large saltwater fish, such as red drum, black drum and trout.
Is the Cape Fear River polluted?
The Cape Fear River supplies drinking water to tens of thousands of state residents. It’s also an ecosystem bearing the impacts of climate change and sea level rise, polluted by man-made chemicals, stormwater runoff, and waste runoff from factory farms.
How Deep is the Cape Fear River?
That’s because the shipping channel in the Cape Fear River is not deep enough. The channel, which runs 26 miles from the docks to the open ocean, is 42 feet deep at the lowest low tide.
Are there snakes in the Cape Fear River?
Black bears, feral swine, alligators, and snakes — venomous and nonvenomous — are living in the Cape Fear region. There’s nothing to fear from the local wildlife, say state biologists, but there’s a lot to learn.
Why is it called the Cape Fear River?
The river is named for Cape Fear, at the southern tip of Smith Island, the site of dangerous shoals. The river and its region are the setting for the popular Hollywood film noir Cape Fear (originally made in 1962 and remade in 1991), which is based on the novel The Executioner (1958) by John MacDonald.
What is Cape Fear known for?
Cape Fear was the landing place of British General Sir Henry Clinton during the American Revolutionary War on May 3, 1775. The 1962 film Cape Fear and its 1991 remake were set at Cape Fear (although neither movie actually was filmed there).
Are there dolphins in the Cape Fear River?
“There is a small group of Atlantic bottlenose dolphins documented year-round in the Wilmington area,” she said. “These ‘residents’ represent animals adapted for truly coastal living and can be spotted in the marshes and close to shore – even in the Cape Fear River – usually in small groups of three to five animals.”
Are there great white sharks in NC?
Great whites can be found all over North Carolina’s coast. While unconfirmed sightings may have occurred over time, we can only check the official data provided by the OCEARCH organization. For example, in May 2022, some tagged sharks named Ironbound, Tancook, and Ulysses were spotted near North Carolina.
Are there bull sharks in NC?
Bull sharks (Carcharhinus leucas), which can top off at 10.5 feet, are the apex predators of the North Carolina sounds. They can tolerate brackish and fresh water, and for that reason can be found in nearly any body of water that has a connection to the ocean.
Are there sturgeon in North Carolina?
In North Carolina, Lake Sturgeon have been reintroduced into the lower French Broad River downstream of Marshall, in Madison County, where the species has been stocked annually since 2015.
What kind of fish are in the Northeast Cape Fear River?
Northeast Cape Fear River (Holly Shelter) Primary Fish Species: Largemouth bass, sunfish, crappie, catfish, yellow perch and chain pickerel; American shad and striped bass in the spring.
Where can I catch redfish in Wilmington NC?
Old Dock and Piers along the downtown Wilmington waterfront will also hold the Red Drum, Speckled Trout, and Flounder. The Cape Fear River is an excellent place to do some Red Fishing from Baldhead Island to Downtown Wilmington, N.C. anywhere along the banks it is possible to catch a Red Fish.
What do you fish for in Wilmington NC?
Fishing in Wilmington and Island Beaches Anglers’ favorites include flounder, speckled trout, red drum, Spanish mackerel, king mackerel, bluefish, pompano, gray trout, spot, croaker and whiting.
How do you catch a big bass in a river?
How long is Cape Fear River Trail?
The CFRT is a 10-foot wide paved path for walkers, joggers, bicyclists and others utilizing non-motorized transportation. It winds for over 7 miles, one-way, through a beautiful blend of trees, plants and wildlife with spectacular views of the river. The terrain can be flat or slightly hilly.
Where is Cape Fear River basin?
Cape Fear Basin The Cape Fear is one of four river basins entirely contained within North Carolina’s borders. The river is formed by the Deep, Rocky and Haw rivers, which converge in Chatham County just below the B. Everett Jordan Dam. The river ends in 32,000 acres of estuary near Southport.