THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1996, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Thursday, July 4, 1996 TAG: 9607040583
SECTION: LOCAL PAGE: B1 EDITION: NORTH CAROLINA
COLUMN: Fishing on the Outer Banks
SOURCE: Damon Tatem
LENGTH: 63 lines
Pier fishing was good at some northern beach locations Wednesday morning, but slow during the afternoon.
Kitty Hawk Pier reported good morning catches of tailor bluefish, croaker and sea mullet. Three cobia, one king mackerel and a few Spanish mackerel were also taken. Afternoon fishing was slow.
Plenty of bluefish, some small bottom fish and a few Spanish mackerel were landed early in the day on Avalon Pier. Fishing was slow in the afternoon.
Anglers on Nags Head Pier caught a few sea mullet, small bluefish, small flounder and several Spanish mackerel throughout the day.
Small bottom fish, some Spanish mackerel, a few bluefish and cobia weighing 60 and 32 pounds were caught by anglers on Jennette's Pier during the morning. Few fish were caught in the afternoon.
Fishermen on Outer Banks Pier caught a few croaker, small bluefish and gray trout off and on during the day.
On Hatteras Island, Rodanthe Pier reported a 43-pound king mackerel landed late Tuesday afternoon. A 38-pound king mackerel was landed Wednesday. Good numbers of spot, sea mullet, croaker, and small flounder also were taken.
Lots of skates, scattered spot, and some sea mullet were landed on Avon Pier.
Frisco Pier reported 11 king mackerel decked Tuesday. The best action was late in the day. Good numbers of spot, some mullet, spadefish, croaker and a few keeper flounder were landed Wednesday. Several cobia and king mackerel were seen.
Surf fishing along the northern beaches was fair, with small bottom fish and tailor blues landed from deeper sloughs during the morning's incoming tide.
Some bottom fish and tailor blues were taken by fishermen on both the north and south shores of Oregon Inlet.
Surf fishermen landed pinhead croaker, small spot and a few small speckled trout along the beach from Rodanthe to Buxton.
Some puppy drum were landed from Cape Point Tuesday evening and Wednesday morning. Tailor bluefish, Spanish mackerel and some keeper flounder were taken Wednesday.
Small bluefish and flounder were landed in the surf around Hatteras Inlet.
Inshore trolling around Oregon Inlet was fairly good for tailor bluefish. Fair numbers of Spanish mackerel also were taken.
Headboats around the inlet caught croaker, blues, pigfish and small gray trout.
Intermediate charters fished around the offshore towers and landed jacks.
Boaters fishing in Croatan Sound have landed good catches of big croaker at night. Some speckled and gray trout also have been taken around the Manns Harbor Bridge.
Dolphin fishing was good off Oregon Inlet on Wednesday, with almost all charters catching their limits. Scattered wahoo and a few tuna also were taken. About 15 billfish were released by the Pirates Cove and Oregon Inlet Fishing Center fleets, including five white marlin by the Pelican. A blue marlin was brought to the dock by the Gravy.
Charters off Hatteras reported excellent catches of bailer and gaffer dolphin. Wahoo fishing also was good, with a few boats landing 10 fish each. About 15 billfish were released by the Hatteras fleet. Action was scattered from the rockpile to the Diamond Shoals Light Tower.
The water temperature was 71.5 degrees Wednesday at the Army Corps of Engineers Pier in Duck, and 75 degrees at Frisco Pier. by CNB