THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1996, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Tuesday, August 6, 1996 TAG: 9608060364
SECTION: LOCAL PAGE: B1 EDITION: NORTH CAROLINA
COLUMN: Fishing on the Outer Banks
SOURCE: Damon Tatem
LENGTH: 87 lines
Surf fishing was good along the beach from Corolla to Oregon Inlet this past weekend.
Anglers caught plenty of spot, scattered croaker, a few nice sea mullet and an occasional flounder from deeper sloughs. Most of the fish were taken on bloodworms.
Bottom fish were abundant around Oregon Inlet. Fair numbers of flounder were taken in the area.
Some catches of gray trout were landed from the catwalk on the south end of the Bonner Bridge Saturday and Sunday nights. Sheepshead fishing around the bridge supports was slow.
Quite a few sea mullet, spot and croaker were landed by surfcasters from Rodanthe to Buxton Saturday. Some gray trout also were taken on cut bait.
Thirteen- to 15-inch striped bass were hooked and released in quantity throughout the weekend in the surf near the S turns. The fish were feeding on silversides, and hit clear Fin-S artificial lures.
Spanish mackerel and bluefish were beached off and on Saturday and Sunday at Cape Point. Small bottom fish and a few pompano were taken along the beach north of Cape Point. Scattered sea mullet were landed along the south beach.
Fishing was slow from Frisco to Hatteras Inlet Saturday. Action improved Sunday, with scattered bluefish landed by surfcasters from Frisco to False Point. Some big Spanish mackerel were landed on the ocean side of False Point Sunday.
Pier fishing was slow overall along the Dare Coast during the weekend.
Kitty Hawk Pier reported a few Spanish mackerel landed Saturday morning. A 49-pound cobia and a 20-pound king mackerel were decked Sunday. A few spot and small bluefish also appeared in catches.
Anglers on Avalon Pier landed a few Spanish mackerel, spot and black drum Saturday. A few spot, croaker and black drum were taken Sunday. Small bottom fish were caught by fishermen on Nags Head Pier Saturday and Sunday.
Jennette's Pier also reported a few small bottom fish taken throughout the weekend.
Outer Banks Pier reported lots of croaker landed Saturday morning. Three cobia were decked Sunday, ranging in weight from 25 to 35 pounds. Fishermen also caught a few spot, bluefish and croaker.
South of Oregon Inlet, anglers on Rodanthe Pier landed a few bottom fish during the weekend.
Fifteen to 18-inch Spanish mackerel were landed from the end of Avon Pier Saturday morning. Spot and croaker were taken in the afternoon. A few bluefish, Spanish mackerel and several small bottom fish were caught Sunday.
Anglers on Frisco Pier caught small gray trout and bottom fish Saturday. Fishing was slow Sunday.
Charters trolling around Oregon Inlet caught plenty of small bluefish Saturday.
Headboats in the area caught plenty of pigfish, croaker and a few flounder Saturday. Some flounder and small bottom fish were landed by boaters around the inlet Sunday.
Blue water charters out of Oregon Inlet landed good catches of yellowfin tuna around the 40520 Loran line Saturday.
A few dolphin were taken and 17 billfish were released, including three white marlin by the Temptress and a blue marlin by the Sizzler. Most of the billfish action was northeast of the inlet.
Yellowfin tuna action was centered on the point Sunday. The Capt. B.C. landed 1322 pounds of tuna, including five big-eyes weighing between 156 and 207 pounds, and five big yellowfins. A few dolphin and an occasional wahoo were taken by the fleet.
Billfish releases included three white marlin each by the Pelican and the Smoker, two white marlin by the Suspense, one white marlin each by the Miss Boo and the Obsession and a blue marlin with an estimated weight of 500 pounds by the Country Girl.
A few tuna, very few dolphin and scattered wahoo were taken in the Gulf Stream off Hatteras Saturday.
Billfish released included four sailfish by the Hatteras Fever, two sailfish by the Tuna Duck, one sailfish each by the Sea Angel and the Release, one white marlin each by the Hatteras Fever II and the Fin Fantasy, and one blue marlin each by the Chapin and the Bullfrog.
Blue water action was slow off Hatteras Sunday.
Bottom fishing should remain good in the surf along the Dare Coast as long as winds remain light and variable.
The water temperature was 74 degrees Monday at the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Pier in Duck, and 78 degrees at Frisco Pier on Hatteras Island. ILLUSTRATION: Color photo by DREW C. WILSON, The Virginian-Pilot
Walter Widmer, 44, of Manteo, releases a small striped bass, also
known as rockfish, after catching the protected fish at the catwalk
on the Herbert C. Bonner Bridge at Oregon Inlet. ``The ban on
commercial fishing has really brought the rockfish back,'' Widmer
said. by CNB