THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1996, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Sunday, July 14, 1996 TAG: 9607110193
SECTION: CAROLINA COAST PAGE: 44 EDITION: FINAL
COLUMN: FISHING ON THE OUTER BANKS
SOURCE: Damon Tatem
LENGTH: 96 lines
BILLFISHING has been spectacular recently in the Gulf Stream off the Dare coast.
Action began July 5, with more than 50 white marlin released south of ``The Point'' by the Pirate's Cove and Oregon Inlet fleets.
Action the next day was in an area east of Oregon Inlet around the 40750 Loran line in about 45 fathoms of water.
At least 90 billfish were released, including 11 white marlin by both the Sea Witch and the Obsession, 10 white marlin by the Temptress and 9 white marlin by the Sea Toy.
Seven white marlin were released by the C-Note, 6 white marlin and a blue marlin by the Outer Limits and 5 white marlin by the Fast Lane.
Marlin fishing continued at a steady pace July 7, with about 60 releases reported. The most notable were a blue marlin and 7 white marlin by the Sea Breeze, 6 white marlin by the Osprey and 5 white marlin by the Sea Toy. Most of the action was east of Oregon Inlet in fairly shallow water.
Dolphin fishing was good off Oregon Inlet from July 3 through July 5. Tuna fishing was slow from July 2 through July 5, but improved July 6 and 7. Good catches were reported from the 40390 to the 40400 Loran lines during that period.
The Hatteras fleet released 15 white marlin in the area between the rockpile and Diamond Shoals Light Tower July 3.
Limits of dolphin also were taken. And several boats operating inshore of the main fleet caught 10 wahoo each.
Inshore trolling around Oregon Inlet was good July 3, with plenty of nice bluefish taken. Fishing was slow for the next few days, but improved July 6 and 7 with good catches of Spanish mackerel reported.
Some cobia also were landed on tide lines a little offshore.
Intermediate trips to offshore towers have been productive for anglers who like catching jacks. Cobia and other species have been scarce around the towers.
Headboats operating in the sound around Oregon Inlet have reported catching fair numbers of croaker and small bottom fish.
Boaters in the Manns Harbor area have caught plenty of croaker, a few speckled trout and fair numbers of keeper flounder.
Plenty of 20- to 24-inch striped bass were hooked and released July 8 near the Manns Harbor Bridge almost all day.
Pier fishing along the northern beaches has been fair, with both small and large fish taken.
Quite a few tailor bluefish and some sea mullet were landed July 4 on Kitty Hawk Pier.
Bluefish, Spanish mackerel and some small bottom fish were taken July 4 and 5 on Avalon Pier. A 17-pound king mackerel was decked July 6. Pier anglers landed bluefish and scattered small speckled trout on jiggers July 7.
Nags Head Pier reported a 3-pound, 7-ounce flounder taken by Ray Herbin of Nags Head and a 30-pound jack taken by Bill Wiley of Richmond July 6.
Five nice looking mackerel - weighing between 12 and 21 pounds each - and cobia weighing 25 and 27 pounds were decked July 7.
Jennette's Pier anglers caught a few small bottom fish July 7. A good run of sea mullet developed July 8 late in the afternoon. Most of the sea mullet were taken close to the surf on bloodworms.
Outer Banks Pier fishermen caught king mackerel weighing 22 and 24 pounds and a 26-pound cobia July 6.
On Hatteras Island, Rodanthe Pier reported catches of gray trout, spot, flounder and a king mackerel weighing 38 pounds July 3. A 22-pound king mackerel was landed July 4.
Cobia weighing 30 and 38 pounds and an 18-pound king mackerel were decked July 5.
Spot, king mackerel and a 27 1/2-pound king mackerel were taken July 6, and a 26-pound king mackerel was landed July 7.
Avon Pier fishermen caught bottom fish during the morning July 3. Fishing was slow July 4 through 6. Action improved July 8 and 9 with lots of small bottom fish landed.
Spanish mackerel and bluefish were landed early in the morning and just before dark July 4 on Frisco Pier.
Five king mackerel weighing as much as 23 pounds and a 45-pound cobia were taken July 6. Six king mackerel weighing between 10 and 24 pounds and a small cobia were landed July 7.
Dirty water on July 8 and 9 brought plenty of small bottom fish to the pier.
Surf fishing along the northern beaches has been fairly good. Small croaker, spot, sea mullet and a few flounder were landed from deeper sloughs last week.
Small bottom fish have been landed from the surf around the north side of the Oregon Inlet bridge. Good numbers of bottom fish also have been taken regularly from the catwalk on the south end of the bridge. Plenty of gray trout, measuring as much as 20 inches, have been caught by anglers using lights suspended over the water from the catwalk. Both bucktails and live bait have been used successfully.
Bottom fish, tailor blues, small gray trout and a few pompano have been landed by surfcasters from Rodanthe to Buxton.
Some pompano, small bottom fish and keeper flounder have been landed at Cape Point.
A 45-pound cobia was beached by an angler flounder fishing with squid July 5. Scattered puppy drum were landed July 6.
Small bottom fish and a few bluefish have been taken regularly along the beach from Frisco to Hatteras Inlet. by CNB