THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Sunday, May 21, 1995 TAG: 9505180369
SECTION: CAROLINA COAST PAGE: 32 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: Damon Tatem
LENGTH: Medium: 75 lines
Pier fishing along the northern Outer Banks has been fair over the past week, with small bluefish providing the bulk of the action. In addition, a few Spanish mackerel, the first of the season, have been taken. Speckled trout fishing has been spotty. The best run reported recently was on May 12, when anglers on Kitty Hawk Pier landed 2-to-3-pound fish at a steady rate during most of the morning. A few keeper gray trout also have been taken, but action hasn't been dependable. Sea mullet fishing has been good when the water inshore has been dirty. Lots of small spot and little croakers also have been caught under similar conditions.
On Hatteras Island, anglers fishing from Rodanthe Pier have caught a few mullet, tailor blues, gray trout and some small spot. Fishing on Avon Pier has been slow overall, with a few blues, mullet, sand perch and small croakers landed. The best pier fishing on Hatteras Island has been on Frisco Pier, where good runs of Spanish mackerel have been reported, with some weighing as much as 7 pounds. Anglers fishing with live bait off the end of the pier have caught some 10-to-12-pound blues, and several cobia weighing up to 50 pounds.
Surf fishing along the northern beaches has been fair. Anglers have caught some small bottom fish and a few blues. A good run of speckled trout developed in the surf south of Kitty Hawk Pier the morning of May 12. The run of 2-to-3-pound fish lasted a couple of hours. Soft plastic lures, such as the Fin-S, produced the best results. Action around Oregon Inlet has been generally slow, with a few pigfish, croakers and tailor blues taken. The Green Island Slough area has not been very productive for trout so far this season. Good catches of speckled trout continue to be hauled from the Off Island channel behind Bodie Island light. The best action in that area has been with a northeast or east wind.
On Hatteras Island, surfcasters have beached small blues and sea mullet daily from Rodanthe to Buxton. Drum have been scarce at Cape Point. A few were taken on May 14 during the night. A cobia weighing 58 pounds also was landed that evening by an angler fishing with cut bait for drum. Daytime fishermen at Cape Point have caught some tailor blues, sea mullet and a few Spanish mackerel. Along the beach south of Cape Point, Spanish mackerel, sea mullet, tailor blues and flounder have been taken.
Inshore trolling around Oregon Inlet has improved in the past week, with some good catches of 2-pound Spanish mackerel reported. Head boat landings of sea bass and pigfish also have been good. Bluewater fishing southeast of Oregon Inlet, around ``the point,'' has been super, particularly for yellowfin tuna.
Several big-eye tuna have been taken, including a 181-pounder by the ``Marlin Fever'' on May 14. Some good catches of gaffer dolphin also have been reported. Marlin have been scarce off Oregon Inlet, but some good catches have been made in deep water off Hatteras Island. Seven billfish were released by the Hatteras fleet on May 13, and 10 on May 14. Dolphin, tuna and wahoo fishing also has been good in the area.
King mackerel and cobia fishing on piers and from boats should improve in the Hatteras area as water temperatures rise. Cobia should appear soon around piers along the northern beaches and off Oregon Inlet.
A meeting of interest to bluewater fishermen will be held by the National Marine Fisheries Service from 6 to 10 p.m. May 25 at the Manteo aquarium. The main topic will be proposed bluefin tuna regulations. Of more concern locally will be a discussion of possible new federal regulations directed toward the yellowfin and big-eye fisheries. The proposed regulations include a recreational bag limit on yellowfin tuna, a permitting system for charter and private vessels, and a no-sale provision for recreational vessels or by vessels operating as party or charter boats. ILLUSTRATION: Staff photo by DREW C. WILSON
Clara and Carlton Hunter made a nice catch of white perch from the
Avalon Pier on May 18. Some sand perch have also been caught
recently at Avon Pier.
by CNB