THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1996, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Friday, May 24, 1996 TAG: 9605240512
SECTION: LOCAL PAGE: B1 EDITION: NORTH CAROLINA
COLUMN: FISHING ON THE OUTER BANKS
SOURCE: Damon Tatem
LENGTH: 54 lines
Clear water along the northern beaches kept pier action to a minimum Thursday.
Fishing was slow on Kitty Hawk Pier, with only a few skates taken.
Avalon Pier reported some bluefish, Spanish mackerel and small gray trout landed late Wednesday night. A few Spanish mackerel and bluefish were caught early Thursday morning, but fishing was slow the rest of the day.
A few Spanish mackerel and bluefish were landed at sunrise on Nags Head Pier, but little action was reported later in the day.
Some sea mullet and gray trout were landed off and on throughout the day on Outer Banks Pier.
On Hatteras Island, Rodanthe Pier fishermen caught a few bluefish, toadfish and sea mullet in the morning. Some Spanish mackerel and bluefish were taken on artificial baits during the afternoon.
Avon Pier reported a few flounder and pinfish landed during the day.
Fishing was slow on Frisco Pier early in the day, but terrific during the afternoon. Plenty of 3- to 4- pound Spanish mackerel were landed until dark, and a 10-pound king mackerel was landed by Ron Donat of Hatteras.
Surf action along the northern beach area was generally slow, with only a few bluefish and an occasional speckled trout landed from deeper sloughs early in the morning.
Some gray trout were landed from the south side of Oregon Inlet late Wednesday. A few blues and scattered bottom fish were beached in the area Thursday.
Small bottom fish were taken along the beach from Rodanthe to Buxton.
A few drum and big blues were landed at Cape Point Wednesday night. Spanish mackerel and some keeper flounder were taken along the beach south of Cape Point Thursday.
Fair numbers of Spanish mackerel were beached from Frisco Pier to False Point Thursday afternoon, but were caught only by surf fishermen capable of casting great distances.
Inshore trolling around Oregon Inlet was fair, with some keeper Spanish mackerel and bluefish taken. Pigfish were landed by headboats in the inlet area on half-day trips.
Bluewater action off Oregon Inlet was good. Charters landed plenty of mixed-sized yellowfin tuna. A few scattered dolphin also were taken.
Offshore fishing was fairly slow off Hatteras yesterday. Some nice gaffer dolphin were taken, but tuna were scarce. Blue marlin were released by the Sea Creature, the Tuna Duck and the Good Times. A white marlin was released by the Capt. B.
The arrival of clear, warm water along the northern beaches should bring the possibility of king mackerel and cobia action during the weekend for pier and inshore boat fishermen.
The water temperature was 67 degrees Thursday at the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Pier in Duck, and 72 degrees at Frisco Pier on Hatteras Island. by CNB