THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Sunday, June 25, 1995 TAG: 9506220236
SECTION: CAROLINA COAST PAGE: 40 EDITION: FINAL
COLUMN: Tight Lines
SOURCE: Damon Tatem
LENGTH: Medium: 77 lines
King mackerel and cobia fishing have been great on northern beach piers recently. Nineteen cobia weighing from 27 to 59 pouds were taken by anglers using live bait from June 17 through June 20. Fourteen king mackerel weighing from 16 to 42 pounds were decked during the same period. Plenty of jacks in the 25- to 35-pound class also have been taken on live baits, mainly bluefish.
In addition to big fish, pier anglers along the northern beach area have caught fair numbers of Spanish mackerel and bluefish. Fishing has been at its peak during early mornings, late afternoons and on the last few hours of a rising tide. Some scattered sea mullet, spot, small gray trout, croaker and a few nice speckled trout have appeared in catches.
Pier fishing has been fair on Hatteras Island. Anglers on Rodanthe Pier have caught some small bottom fish, gray trout, bluefish and Spanish mackerel. A 32-pound king mackerel was landed from the pier on June 16.
Avon Pier fishermen have caught a few small blues, spot and an occasional Spanish mackerel.
On Frisco Pier, fair numbers of small bottom fish have been taken, along with a few Spanish mackerel and bluefish. A 33-pound cobia was landed from the pier on June 16. Two cobia were taken on June 17, including a whopping 66-pounder by Barry James of Upper Marlboro, Md.
Surf fishing from Corolla to Oregon Inlet has been slow overall. Some small bottom fish have been taken on bloodworms and fresh shrimp. Tailor blues weighing from 1 to 2 pounds have been landed from deeper sloughs along the beach on Shortie Hopkins lures and fireballs baited with fresh mullet. A few nice mullet and pompano have been taken by anglers using soft sand fleas for bait.
Flounder have been plentiful around Oregon Inlet, with an improving percentage of keepers reported. Anglers fishing around the Oregon Inlet bridge supports have caught plenty of sheepshead, spadefish and small black drum.
Surf fishermen on Hatteras Island have caught plenty of tailor bluefish, small gray trout, some sea mullet and a few pompano from Rodanthe to Buxton. Anglers at Cape Point have beached small blues and bottom fish. Flounder, bluefish and some nice-sized mullet have been taken along the beach south of Cape Point toward Hatteras Inlet.
Surfcasters along the beach in Ocracoke have caught a few keeper flounder, mullet, puppy drum and pompano. Some good catches of tailor blues have been reported from the south point of Ocracoke Island.
Inshore trolling has been spotty around Oregon Inlet. On June 16, half-day trips produced good catches of Spanish mackerel during the morning, but little in the afternoon. Headboat action has been similar, with occasional good catches of bass and triggerfish reported, but slow fishing in the sound west of the Oregon Inlet bridge on most days.
Drift fishing for flounder in Davis Slough has been pretty good, with some of the fish taken weighing more than 3 pounds. Some good catches of gray trout have been reported from the Green Island Slough area, but speckled trout have been scarce.
Yellowfin tuna action off Oregon Inlet has been fair. Dolphin fishing has been good, but not as good as the excellent fishing reported over the past couple of weeks. Some scattered big wahoo have been taken, including an 80-pounder by Jim Clark of Millboro, Va., aboard the Fintastic on June 14. Billfishing has been mediocre, with only a few scattered fish reporterd.
The headboat Miss Hatteras, fishing out of Odens Dock on Hatteras Island, reported good dolphin fishing and fair catches of triggerfish on recent full-day trips to offshore wrecks.
Dolphin fishing has been good in the Gulf Stream off Hatteras Island, but tuna fishing has been slow.
Billfishing has been lackluster with an occasional sailfish, white or blue marlin released. ILLUSTRATION: Staff photo by DREW C. WILSON
Doug Jackson, 60, of Berryville, Va., caught a nice string of
speckled trout and gray trout.
by CNB