THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1996, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Sunday, November 3, 1996 TAG: 9610310180
SECTION: CAROLINA COAST PAGE: 23 EDITION: FINAL
COLUMN: TIGHT LINES
SOURCE: Damon Tatem
LENGTH: 82 lines
Blue water action has been good along the Dare coast recently, in spite of several periods of rough weather.
Charters were unable to fish off Oregon Inlet Oct. 23 and 24, but fishing resumed the following day with good catches of yellowfin tuna, some king mackerel and a few dolphin reported.
Limits of king mackerel, scattered tuna, a few dolphin and several 40- to 60-pound wahoo were taken by the Pirates Cove and Oregon Inlet fleets Oct. 26.
Tuna fishing was good the next day, with boats landing between nine and 18 yellowfin tuna each. A few albacore and dolphin also were taken. The best action was near the point.
Charters averaged 10 yellowfin tuna per boat Oct. 28. Most of the fish were fairly small.
The Hatteras fleet landed a few king mackerel, dolphin and wahoo Oct. 25.
King mackerel fishing improved dramatically the following day, with plenty of 30- and 40-pounders taken on live bait. In addition to plenty of king mackerel, Hatteras charters landed a few nice tuna and wahoo.
The largest king mackerel reported during the Hatteras Village King Mackerel Tournament was landed Oct. 26 aboard Capt. Walt Spruill's Hatteras Fever.
Big king mackerel were plentiful Oct. 27. Some nice dolphin also were taken. Action slowed Oct. 28, with scattered king mackerel landed.
Pier fishing along the northern beaches was at a standstill Oct. 23 and 24 because of rough seas, but conditions improved Oct. 25 and 26.
Kitty Hawk Pier reported lots of small speckled trout hooked and released, and some small sand perch, bluefish and tiny spot landed Oct. 25 and 26.
Fishing was slow on the pier the next several days, with a few scattered small bottom fish and trout landed.
Small bottom fish, small bluefish and very small speckled trout were taken Oct. 25 and 26 on Avalon Pier. Tailor blues were landed in fair numbers Oct. 27 in the afternoon. A few keeper trout and a few flounder were taken the following day.
Fishermen on Nags Head Pier caught quite a few small speckled trout, a few flounder and some sand perch Oct. 25.
A few bluefish, sea mullet and small speckled trout were landed Oct. 26. Early morning and late afternoon runs of small bluefish were reported Oct. 27 and 28.
Fishing was slow on Jennette's Pier Oct. 25 and 26. A few small bluefish were landed on cut bait Oct. 27 during the morning, but afternoon action was nil. Only a few toadfish were taken Oct. 28.
A few small speckled trout, bottom fish and very small bluefish were landed from Outer Banks Pier Oct. 25 and 26.
Small speckled trout, a few small bluefish and a 2 1/2 pound black drum were decked Oct. 27. Fishing continued to be slow the following day, with a few small spot, bluefish, toadfish and flounder landed.
South of Oregon Inlet, Rodanthe Pier reported a few spot, sea mullet and bluefish taken Oct. 25. Fishing was unusually slow Oct. 26 and 27. A few bluefish and sea mullet were caught Oct. 28.
A 25- and a 35-pound drum were landed on Avon Pier the night of Oct. 24, and a 32- and a 27-pounder were decked during the day Oct. 25.
Fishing was slow Oct. 26 and 27 during the day. Some nice sea mullet were taken both nights. A few sea mullet, spot and small bluefish were caught Oct. 28.
Some keeper flounder, small sea mullet, bluefish and a few black drum were landed on Frisco Pier Oct. 25. Little action was reported Oct. 26-28.
Surf fishing from Corolla to Buxton has been slow recently. Anglers have caught a few bottom fish along with scattered speckled trout. The trout have been landed from deeper sloughs north of piers.
Anglers around Oregon Inlet have caught some keeper flounder, black drum and small bottom fish from both the north and south sides. Quite a few small speckled trout were landed Oct. 28 in the area.
Small bluefish, very small speckled trout, scattered sea mullet and a few puppy drum have been landed along the beach from Rodanthe to Buxton.
A few drum, both large and small, have been beached at Cape Point along with some nice flounder, small bluefish and sea mullet.
Small bottom fish, a few keeper flounder, small bluefish and a few black drum have appeared in catches along the beach from Frisco to Hatteras Inlet. Some fair catches of speckled trout have been reported by boaters fishing in and west of the inlet. 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