THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1996, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Sunday, September 1, 1996 TAG: 9608290208
SECTION: CAROLINA COAST PAGE: 44 EDITION: FINAL
COLUMN: Tight Lines
SOURCE: Damon Tatem
LENGTH: 98 lines
Excellent white marlin fishing northeast of Oregon Inlet continued for the third week last week.
More than 115 billfish were released by the Pirates Cove and Oregon Inlet Fishing Center fleets Aug. 21. Releases included 11 white marlin by ``The Pelican,'' nine by the ``Fight 'n' Lady'' and five by the ``Right Hook.''
Captains also reported good catches of billfish the following day. Five white marlin and a blue marlin were released by the ``First Crack,'' four white marlin were released by the ``CJ IV'' and three white marlin were released by the ``Suspense.''
White marlin releases topped 100 fish Aug. 23, with six releases reported by the ``Sea Toy'' and three by the ``Candlewick Lady.''
Billfishing began to slow Aug. 24, with 70 fish released. Gradually decreasing numbers were reported over the next few days. The majority of the action has occured in water depths ranging from 50 to 100 fathoms, between the 40900 to the 41050 Loran lines.
Some fair catches of dolphin have been reported in the same area. But tuna have been scarce.
Blue water action around the point, southeast of Oregon Inlet, has been slow overall. Only a few tuna, dolphin and wahoo have been taken.
Charters off Hatteras Island have reported fairly good dolphin fishing. Aug. 24 was particularly good, when quite a few limits of big bailers were taken. Some good catches of wahoo also have been reported.
Billfishing was excellent off Hatteras Aug. 24. Releases included three blue marlin by the ``Lucky Chip,'' a blue marlin and a sailfish by the ``Citation,'' three sailfish by the ``Nancy K.,'' a blue marlin and a sailfish by the ``Marlin Mania'' and a blue marlin by ``The Chaser.''
Inshore trolling around Oregon Inlet was only mediocre Aug. 21. But it improved Aug. 22 with some nice Spanish mackerel and 5-to-8-pound king mackerel landed one to 1.5 miles outside the inlet.
Action continued Aug. 23, with good catches of Spanish mackerel on morning half-day trips. Fishing was slow Aug. 24 and 25, but improved the following day when plenty of Spanish mackerel were landed a short distance offshore, both north and south of the inlet.
Headboat catches have been fairly good with croaker, gray trout and some flounder landed in the sound and triggerfish and pigfish taken in the ocean outside the inlet.
Pier fishing along the northern beaches has been slow, with only a few exceptions.
A few small bottom fish, small flounder, pompano and scattered Spanish mackerel have been taken on Kitty Hawk Pier.
Anglers on Avalon Pier have fared slightly better, catching respectable numbers of bluefish and Spanish mackerel, along with some croaker and spot. Several small sailfish were hooked and released Aug. 20 and 21.
A few keeper flounder, small spot, croaker, bar jacks and a few Spanish mackerel have been taken on Nags Head Pier.
A few bottom fish, pompano, small bluefish and an occasional keeper flounder have been landed by fishermen on Jennette's Pier.
Pompano fishing was good on Outer Banks Pier the morning of Aug. 21. Quite a few bluefish were landed Aug. 23. Plenty of cobia were seen, but none were taken.
A 28-pound cobia was landed by Ernest Sprouse from Virginia Aug. 26. Plenty of other cobia were seen. But they refused to take a bait.
South of Oregon Inlet, Rodanthe Pier reported some big fish action. A 40-pound king mackerel was landed by Kyle Lovell of Rodanthe Aug. 23. King mackerel weighing 18 and 33 pounds were decked the following day. King mackerel weighing 19, 34 and 38 pounds were taken Aug. 26.
Rodanthe Pier anglers also have landed some spot, sea mullet, Spanish mackerel, small bluefish and a few pompano recently.
Lots of small bottom fish, along with pompano weighing as much as 1.5 pounds, were taken on Avon Pier Aug. 21 and 22. Fishing was slow Aug. 23 through 25. But fair numbers of sea mullet, croaker and pompano were landed Aug. 26.
Plenty of Spanish mackerel were caught by fishermen on Frisco Pier Aug. 21. A 16-pound king mackerel was landed Aug. 23. But big fish have been scarce. A few small bottom fish were taken from the pier Aug. 24 through 26.
Surf fishermen have caught ample quantities of spot and sea mullet recently along the beach from Corolla to Oregon Inlet. Some nice pompano also have been landed by anglers using soft sand fleas for bait. A few flounder have been taken. But most have been small. Action has been best early mornings and just before dark.
Small bottom fish, flounder and scattered bluefish have been taken regularly around Oregon Inlet. Quite a few flounder have been hooked in the area, but most have been too small to keep. A few gray trout also have been taken.
Spot and croaker have been abundant in the surf from Rodanthe to Buxton. Some nice gray trout have been landed on fresh shrimp between Ramps 23 and 27. Sea mullet fishing has been good at Ramp 38.
Anglers at Cape Point have caught Spanish mackerel almost every day around sunrise and just before dark. Some bottom fish also have been taken along both the north and south beach areas fairly regularly. A 5.75-pound gray trout was beached south of Cape Point Aug. 24.
Lots of small pompano were caught along the Frisco beach Aug. 23. A few bottom fish were beached by surf fishermen from Frisco to False Point Aug. 25 and 26. A wind shift should improve fishing in this area. MEMO: Damon Tatem covers Outer Banks fishing for The Carolina Coast.
Send comments and questions to him at P.O. Box 10, Nags Head, N.C.
27959. by CNB