THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Tuesday, July 25, 1995 TAG: 9507250381
SECTION: LOCAL PAGE: B1 EDITION: NORTH CAROLINA
COLUMN: FISHING ON THE OUTER BANKS
SOURCE: Damon Tatem
LENGTH: Medium: 64 lines
Pier fishing was fair along the northern beaches during the weekend.
A few spot and bluefish were taken on Kitty Hawk Pier Saturday, but little action was reported Sunday.
Avalon Pier fishermen caught lots of speckled trout and bluefish on grubs and jiggers late Saturday and Sunday afternoons.
A good run of tailor blues developed on Nags Head Pier just before dark Saurday, but fishing was slow Sunday.
Speckled trout of 1 to 2 pounds were taken from Jennette's Pier Saturday. A few spot and bluefish were landed sporadically Sunday.
Anglers on Outer Banks Pier caught a lot of spot Saturday morning. A few spot, croaker and fair numbers of bluefish were decked Sunday, and a 36-inch cobia was released.
South of Oregon Inlet, Rodanthe Pier reported some bottom fish and lots of 2- to 3-pound sheepshead taken. A 30-inch cobia was released Saturday, and a 17-pound king mackerel was landed Sunday.
Anglers on Avon Pier caught some spot and croaker over the weekend. Small spot and croaker were also the main attraction on Frisco Pier.
Lots of spot were taken in the surf over the weekend in the Corolla-Duck area. Small bottom fish and a few bluefish were landed on the rising tide along the beach from Kitty Hawk to Oregon Inlet.
Some nice bluefish were caught off the beach adjacent to the north side of the Oregon Inlet bridge Saturday. Trout were taken on the flats west of the bridge and in the Off Island channel behind the Bodie Island lighthouse.
Surfcasters from Rodanthe to Buxton caught bottom fish Saturday, and mullet, medium blues and lots of croaker Sunday.
Spanish mackerel were landed at Cape Point during the late afternoon Saturday and Sunday. Some bottom fish, pompano and bluefish were beached during the day.
Speckled trout fishing has been good around Hatteras Inlet behind Dredge Island. Bluefish also have been plentiful in the inlet. Small blues and bottom fish have been landed along the beach in the area.
Inshore trolling around Oregon Inlet was very slow throughout the weekend. Headboat catches of croaker were excellent both in the sound and in the ocean Saturday.
Billfishing was good Saturday well offshore in the Gulf Stream off Oregon Inlet, with around 40 fish released. Releases included two sailfish and two white marlin by the Outer Limit, and two white marlin and one sailfish by the Top Dog. A 368-pound blue marlin was landed by the Fighting Lady. The fish surfaced dead after the fight. Scattered dolphin, wahoo and a few tuna also appeared in catches.
Billfish were scarce Sunday, but dolphin fishing improved with some limits taken. Tuna fishing also showed some signs of improvement, with the Tar Heel landing six yellowfins in the 40-to-50-pound class.
Dolphin fishing was good off Hatteras Saturday and Sunday, but billfish action and tuna fishing were slow.
Bottom fish should be the mainstay of surf action along the Dare Coast as long as winds remain onshore.
The water temperature at the Army Corps of Engineers Pier in Duck was 71 degrees Monday. by CNB