THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Tuesday, July 4, 1995 TAG: 9507040384
SECTION: LOCAL PAGE: B1 EDITION: NORTH CAROLINA
COLUMN: FISHING ON THE OUTER BANKS
SOURCE: DAMON TATEM
LENGTH: Medium: 73 lines
Billfishing improved dramatically southeast of Oregon Inlet below the Diamond Shoals light tower over the weekend.
Charters making the long trip south to an area between the 40185 and 40235 Loran lines Saturday found lots of white marlin. Top catches reported were the Wildfire with six white marlin releases, the Sea Toy with five releases and the Outer Limits and the Dare Devil, each with three releases. Sailfish were freed by the Fighting Lady and the Fintastic. The Hog Wild scored a grand slam, releasing a blue marlin, a white marlin and a sailfish. Good catches of dolphin and a few tuna were reported by the Pirates Cover and Oregon Inlet fleets.
Dolphin fishing was fairly good Sunday off Oregon Inlet, but tuna fishing was slow. Blue marlin were released by the Dream Girl, the First Crack, the Marlin Fever and the Phideaux. The Pelican released a sailfish and the First Crack a white marlin. The Outer Limits landed a 412-pound blue marlin. The best billfish action was north of the inlet.
Charters fishing out of Hatteras also did extremely well southeast of the light tower Saturday. More than 15 billfish were released by the local fleet, including three white marlin and a sailfish by the Release, two blue marlin by the Bullfrog, a white marlin by the Atlantic Blue and a sailfish by the Lucky Chip.
Dolphin fishing was good, but only a few scattered wahoo and tuna were taken. Dolphin fishing continued good Sunday, while tuna fishing improved. Billfishing slowed considerably, with only one sailfish released by the Flying Fisherman.
Headboats in the sound caught croaker and headboats fishing the ocean caught triggerfish. Some fair catches of keeper flounder and sheepshead were taken by boaters in Oregon Inlet. Some croakers and speckled trout were landed in Croatan Sound.
Surf fishing along the northern beach area was fair, with mainly bottom fish taken. Anglers landed some flounder and small bottom fish around Oregon Inlet. Fishermen on the catwalk and the revetment on the inlet's south side caught some speckled trout, bottom fish and sheepshead.
Anglers landed some nice sea mullet, small croaker, spot and bluefish along the beach from Rodanthe south. Some Spanish mackerel, sea mullet and a few puppy drum were beached at Cape Point Saturday. Spanish mackerel up to 6 pounds, sea mullet and five cobia were taken along the beach south to Cape Point.
Pier fishing along the northern beaches was fair Saturday, with some bluefish, Spanish mackerel and bottom fish taken. An 18-pound king mackerel was landed from Avalon Pier, and cobia weighing 27 and 51 pounds were taken from Jennette's Pier.
Fishing was fairly slow Sunday, with scattered bottom fish and a few trout taken. A 21-pound cobia was decked during the afternoon on Outer Banks Pier.
Kitty Hawk Pier reported a 23 1/2 and a 24 1/2-pound king mackerel Monday, and Jennette's had a 41-pound king mackerel landed. Nags Head Pier reported a 25-pound cobia and Outer Banks Pier a 16 1/2-pound king mackerel and a 36-pound cobia.
Pier anglers on Hatteras Island caught some bottom fish throughout the weekend.
Rodanthe Pier reported a 54-pound king mackerel taken Sunday. King mackerel weighing 20 and 34 1/2 pounds were caught Monday.
Avon Pier reported a 27-pound king mackerel decked Monday.
A 12-pound king mackerel was landed Saturday on Frisco Pier. Meanwhile, 26 and 28-pound king mackerel were landed Sunday. Four kings weighing 24 to 38 pounds and a 31-pound cobia were decked Monday. Several big tarpon were lost.
King mackerel and cobia action should remain steady, providing winds stay light offshore.
The temperature at the Army Corps of Engineers Pier in Duck was 76 degrees Monday. by CNB