Note that Shad will preceed the Striper run by one or two weeks depending upon conditions. All of the river system will have the same basic time frame as the Roanoke, but one or two weeks earlier or later depending on conditions.
The Roanoke River System
The Annual Striper Run starts in early March in the big water around Plymouth and moves up the Roanoke River until Middle April through late April in Weldon and between. River flows and weather conditions dictate the arrival and upstream movement of striped bass and will cause several weeks variation either way.
Truly some of the best fishing in the world.
The Neuse and Trent Rivers will roughly parallel the Roanoke time scheme. The fishing is typically not as good as Roanoke's. This run is dependent on flow and Striper and White Shad can be seen as far inland as Raleigh Beach in Raleigh - flow permitting.
The Cape Fear will roughly parallel the Roanoke time scheme. The fishing is typically not as good as Roanoke's. Also, the striper fishery is more precarious in the Cape Fear.