THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1996, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Tuesday, April 16, 1996 TAG: 9604160413
SECTION: LOCAL PAGE: B1 EDITION: NORTH CAROLINA
COLUMN: FISHING ON THE OUTER BANKS
SOURCE: Damon Tatem
LENGTH: Medium: 63 lines
Inshore fishing along the Dare Coast improved during the weekend, particularly in the Hatteras area.
Rodanthe Pier reported short runs of sea mullet Saturday and Sunday. Some small croaker and toadfish also were landed.
Water temperatures in the upper 50s resulted in pretty good fishing at Avon Pier throughout the weekend. Anglers caught some sea mullet, toadfish, croaker and several gray trout. Avon Pier anglers landed some 10-pound bluefish Monday on artificial lures.
Some keeper gray trout were landed from Frisco Pier on Squid Saturday afternoon. A few small croaker, mullet, skates, sharks and gray trout were taken Sunday. Monday's action was pretty good, with 14 -inch bluefish and fair-sized sea mullet reported.
Farther north, a few skates were landed on Kitty Hawk Pier during the weekend. Some sea mullet were taken Monday.
Avalon Pier reported skates taken Saturday. Fishing improved Sunday, with a few croaker, sea mullet and toadfish decked. A 16-inch striped bass was released.
Nags Head pier reported plenty of skates, a few small croaker and several toadfish landed during the weekend.
Anglers on Outer Banks pier snagged and released a couple of pelicans and a sea gull. Plenty of skates and a few toadfish were taken.
Surfcasters along the northern beaches landed skates and an occasional croaker.
Skates, croaker, some toadfish and a few sea mullet were caught along the beach from Oregon Inlet to Buxton. A good run of big bluefish developed along the beach near Ramp 23 late Sunday. Quite a few 12-to-15-pound blues were taken by anglers using artificial lures. Netters in the area also scored well, catching several truck loads of the jumbo fish.
A few bluefish, toadfish, mullet and small gray trout were beached at Cape Point, and a few undersized puppy drum were landed and released.
Blue water action was slow off Oregon Inlet Saturday. Charters averaged four small yellowfin tuna per boat.
Offshore action improved a little Sunday. Mostly small tuna were taken, although a few 70-pounders were reported. The best action was around the 40500 Loran line on the 100 fathom curve. Most of the fish were taken deep on baits pulled behind planers. Surface water temperatures in the area were 57-to-58 degrees.
Gulf Stream action was slow off Hatteras Saturday with only a few yellowfin taken.
Fishing improved a little Sunday. Charters scrapped out only a few tuna, but some good king mackerel catches were reported from around ``the rockpile.'' The headboat, Miss Hatteras, reported a good catch of bottom fish in deep water, providing one bright spot in an otherwise dull picture.
The water temperature at the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Pier in Duck was 50.5 degrees Monday. The water temperature at Frisco pier on Hatteras Island was 59 degrees.
Increasing water temperatures along the northern beaches should bring improved inshore action in the next few days. by CNB