THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1996, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Saturday, August 10, 1996 TAG: 9608100267
SECTION: LOCAL PAGE: B1 EDITION: NORTH CAROLINA
COLUMN: Fishing on the Outer Banks
SOURCE: Damon Tatem
LENGTH: 54 lines
Billfishing was excellent northeast of Oregon Inlet on Friday. Offshore charters released more than 50 white marlin around the 40900 Loran line in water depths ranging from 50 to 100 fathoms.
Releases included five white marlin by the Sea Note and four white marlin by the Fast Lane. Dolphin fishing was slow. Tuna fishing also was slow, with boats at the point catching only a handful.
Hatteras charters reported good billfish action well south of Hatteras Inlet on the 39900 Loran line. The Fin Fantasy released a blue marlin, two white marlin and a sailfish in the area.
Other releases included three white marlin by the Lucky Chip, three sailfish and one white marlin by the Marlin Mania, three white marlin and a blue marlin by the Citation, and two sailfish and a white marlin by the Release. Dolphin, tuna and wahoo fishing were slow.
Although inshore trolling around Oregon Inlet was slow, headboats reported good catches of croaker in both the ocean and the sound. Some pigfish and flounder also were landed.
Pier action among the northern beaches was mixed.
A few spot, mullet and small black drum were landed on Kitty Hawk Pier.
Avalon Pier reported slow fishing during the morning, but good numbers of spot and croaker were taken in the afternoon, along with a few bluefish.
Nags Head Pier reported slow fishing overall, with only a few small bottom fish decked.
Anglers on Jennette's Pier caught a few spot off and on throughout the day.
Lots of spot and mullet were landed early in the day on Outer Banks Pier. Early afternoon fishing was slow, but spot fishing improved about 5 p.m.
On Hatteras Island, a few spot were landed on Rodanthe Pier. Several stripers also were released.
Avon Pier reported slow fishing with a few spot, croaker and pompano landed.
Fishing also was slow on Frisco Pier. Anglers managed to catch several spadefish and sheepshead.
Small bottom fish and a few bluefish were beached by surf fishermen from Corolla to Oregon Inlet.
A few keeper flounder, gray trout and small bottom fish were taken from both sides of Oregon Inlet.
Small bottom fish and a few pompano were landed along the beach from Rodanthe to Buxton.
Spanish mackerel and bluefish were beached by fishermen at Cape Point Friday morning. A mixture of bottom fish and small bluefish was taken during the day. A 17 1/2-pound barracuda was landed on a Stingsilver.
Surfcasters fishing from Frisco to Hatteras Inlet caught spot, croaker and a few pompano. Some keeper flounder were landed from the beach near Ramp 55.
The water temperature was 77.5 degrees Friday at the Army Corps of Engineers Pier in Duck, and 78 degrees at Frisco Pier on Hatteras Island. by CNB