Are there lamprey in the James River?

Lamprey. The lamprey seems like something out of a horror movie: a sucker-like mouth with sharp teeth arranged in a circle that attaches to prey and sucks blood. Thankfully, lampreys are only in the James between March and June to breed.

What lives in the James River?

Other species are also plentiful in the James River, including channel catfish, flathead catfish, and various sunfish species (redbreast, bluegill, and rock bass). Flathead catfish appear to be more numerous upstream from Lynchburg, and channel catfish are more numerous below Lynchburg.

Is James River freshwater?

The bay is an estuary, an area where fresh water flowing from land meets salt water from the sea. Scientists consider the bay to consist of its main part near the coast as well as its tidal tributaries, so that would include the James up to Richmond. The James’ water remains fresh until just below Hopewell.

Is James River navigable?

The James is navigable for deep drafts to Richmond. A bridge 4.5 miles (7 km) long spans the river above Newport News. Jamestown Island, on the river’s lower course, was the site of the first permanent English settlement (1607) in America.

Do lampreys live in the Chesapeake Bay?

The sea lamprey is a potential threat to recreationally and commercially important species in Chesapeake Bay, although it isn’t present in sufficient numbers to be a major destructive force.

What fish live in the James River?

While the Smallmouth bass is the dominant game species in the river, spotted and largemouth bass can also be caught. Other species are also plentiful in the James River, including channel catfish, flat head catfish, and various sunfish species (redbreast, bluegill, and rock bass).

Is the James River safe to swim in?

Last week the Virginia Department of Health warned people and pets to avoid swimming or wading in the river after 300,000 gallons of “raw, undiluted sewage” spilled into Tuckahoe Creek on July 27. …

Does the James River have snakes?

Serpents spotted in the water at Richmond’s James River Park are harmless, not venomous. The legless swimmers found in the James River in Richmond are northern water snakes, which eat fish and frogs. It’s illegal to kill a snake in Virginia unless it poses a safety threat. A big northern water snake runs about 3 feet.

Can you swim in the James River Virginia?

RICHMOND, Va. — The Virginia Department of Health (VDH) said it’s safe to swim in the James River again after they issued an advisory last week due to a massive sewage leak in Goochland County.

Are there sharks in the James River in Virginia?

Here in Virginia, we probably don’t have too much occasion to keep double-checking for dorsal fins in the James. Morrissey notes that the bull shark is not common in our waters, preferring tropical and subtropical regions (a preference that, following this past winter, quite a few Virginians likely share).

Why is it called a weakfish?

The weakfish is the state fish of Delaware. The name “weakfish” comes from the fish’s fragile mouth, which tears easily when hooked by anglers. The Chesapeake Bay is an important spawning area for weakfish.

What kind of fish is a weakfish?

weakfish, also called Sea Trout, (genus Cynoscion), any member of a group of fishes in the croaker family, Sciaenidae (order Perciformes). A half dozen species inhabit the coastal regions of North America. The weakfish (Cynoscion regalis) is a marine sport fish but is usually less than 60 cm (2 feet) long.