THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1996, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Tuesday, May 28, 1996 TAG: 9605280053
SECTION: LOCAL PAGE: B1 EDITION: NORTH CAROLINA
COLUMN: FISHING ON THE OUTER BANKS
SOURCE: Damon Tatem
LENGTH: 79 lines
Pier fishing along the northern beaches was good throughout most of the Memorial Day weekend. The best of the action was reported Sunday.
On Kitty Hawk Pier, a few sea mullet were landed from very clear waters off and on Saturday. Plenty of small spot, some small gray trout and scattered sea mullet were caught Sunday. A good run of 2- to 3-pound Spanish mackerel developed late Sunday afternoon. Spanish mackerel were taken in good numbers on Jerk Jiggers early Sunday morning.
Anglers on Avalon Pier caught some 15- to 18-inch bluefish early Saturday morning. During the day, a few gray trout and sea mullet were landed. Small bottom fish, bluefish, trout and Spanish mackerel were taken from the pier Sunday and Monday.
A few gray trout, small blues and a couple of sea mullet were caught from Nags Head Pier Saturday. Sea mullet, croaker, spot, small bluefish and some Spanish mackerel were landed sporadically Sunday. Some nice bluefish and a few gray trout were landed at sunrise Monday.
Outer Banks Pier reported slow fishing Saturday, with a few gray trout and bluefish taken. Scattered bottom fish and a few blues were caught Sunday. A 30-pound striper was released Sunday night. Spanish mackerel and bluefish were landed from the end of the pier Monday morning.
South of Oregon Inlet, fishermen on Rodanthe Pier caught a few small bottom fish and bluefish Saturday. Plenty of gray trout were landed from the pier Saturday night. A mixture of blues, trout, small bottom fish and a few nice flounder were taken Sunday. Gray trout were landed again Sunday night and plenty of Spanish mackerel were caught from the pier's end early Monday.
Plenty of pigfish, some sea mullet, croaker, small spot and gray trout were landed from Avon Pier throughout the weekend. Small bottom fish were taken Monday.
On Frisco Pier, a few Spanish mackerel and bluefish were landed Saturday. A 34-pound cobia was hauled in by Rawdy Dalley of Fayetteville, N.C. Sunday's fishing was slow with scattered blues, Spanish mackerel and a 48-pound cobia taken. The cobia, landed by Justin Curcio of Hatteras, hit a 14-inch bluefish.
Surf fishing from Corolla to Oregon Inlet was slow Saturday but good Sunday. Anglers caught spots, croakers and small sea mullet from deeper sloughs on the rising tide.
Surfcasters around Oregon Inlet caught small bottom fish, as did fishermen on the bridge catwalk and the revetment on the inlet's south side.
Small bottom fish and blues were taken along the beach from Rodanthe to Buxton throughout the weekend. At Cape Point, a few drum were taken Friday, Saturday and Sunday night. Some nice flounder and Spanish mackerel were caught along the beach south of Cape Point over the weekend. Scattered blues and mixed bottom fish were beached on Cape Point during the day.
Bluefish, flounder and a few nice sea mullet were landed by surf fishermen from Ramp 55 to Hatteras Inlet. Some trout and small bottom fish were taken in the sound behind the inlet.
Inshore trolling around Oregon Inlet has been good for Spanish mackerel and small blues. Flounder catches were outstanding in the Davis Slough area Sunday. Anglers caught 25 to 30 nice fish per boat on squid and flounder strips. Boaters also did well in the Old Ferry Dock area, catching nice gray trout on sting silver lures.
Yellowfin tuna action was good southeast of Oregon Inlet Saturday. The size of fish taken varied from 20 to over 80 pounds. Scattered dolphin were also taken. Two blue marlins were released by the Gannett and one by the Marlin Magic.
Tuna fishing was fair Sunday, with the best of the action between the 40560 and the 40630 Loran lines. A few gaffer dolfin and and king mackerel were also landed. A spearfish was released by the Fight N' Lady and a sailfish by the Smoker.
Spanish mackerel trolling was good in the Hatteras area over the weekend. Some cobia were also taken by live-bait fishermen.
Dolphin fishing was good but tuna action slow off Hatteras Saturday. Two sailfish were released by the Gambler and a white marlin by the Release.
Tuna fishing improved Sunday, and a few dolphin, king mackerel and wahoo were taken. Action was scattered from the Diamond Shoals light tower south. Two blue marlin were released by the Ocean Lady; two white marlin by the Top Billing; a white marlin by the Good Times and sailfish by the Eagle.
Spanish mackerel fishing from northern beach piers should remain good this week, provided the water remains fairly clear.
The water temperature was 68.5 degrees Monday at the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Pier in Duck and 68 degrees at Frisco Pier on Hatteras Island. by CNB