Shad season is officially open

The mysterious Shad season officially opened Jan. 12 by Philip Tripp of Sharon Church Road. He set the new record for the earliest hickory shad taken on hook and line when he landed a 1-pound, 2-ounce hickory around midday at Nelson’s landing on the Neuse River just north of the DuPont plant.

The fish was 14-½ inches in length. This is the earliest catch in the 38-year history of the Grifton Shad Festival. The old record was held by Ronald “Buddy” Edwards of Grifton on Jan. 28, 2001.

I hope that this early catch represents a good upcoming season. Let’s hope that this year is better than last year. I would have to rate the 2007 season as poor. Local shad fishermen were left with question marks on their face after such a slow season.

The talk focused on years gone by when shad fishing was nonexistent. Russian trawlers were blamed for the shortage of shad back then; however, after the 200-mile off shore limit was put into effect, the shad and striped bass population both rebounded.

In fact, until last year, the shad run was better than the old days. Let’s be optimistic about the 2008 season because nothing beats catching shad on ultra light tackle in running river water.

As a follow up from last week’s catfish story, I’ve heard from several local fishermen. One pointed out that not only are the Flathead catfish eating other game fish they are eating other catfish. According to them, you rarely catch any small catfish when fishing for pan fish.

This solidifies the theory that the demon Flathead will eat anything, even it’s own.

Another thought that came to me was that largemouth bass have always been the dominate predator in the Neuse River. Now they are prey, just like all the other fish and I would think that going from the top of the food chain to becoming a part of the food chain would be a difficult adjustment.

Also, in the process, bass would most likely be very easy prey.

In closing all I can say is I think it’s time for the Neuse to be surveyed for catfish to clarify some of these theories. Only then will we know for sure.