DATE: Tuesday, April 29, 1997               TAG: 9704290260

SECTION: LOCAL                   PAGE: B1   EDITION: NORTH CAROLINA 
COLUMN: Fishing on the Outer Banks

SOURCE: Damon Tatem

                                            LENGTH:   68 lines

PIER FISHING IMPROVES AS WATER TEMPERATURES REACH MID-50S

Pier fishing along the northern beaches improved during the weekend as water temperatures rose into the mid-50s.

Several sea mullet and a few toadfish were taken Saturday on Kitty Hawk Pier. Eight- to 10-inch bluefish and a few toadfish were decked Sunday.

Avalon Pier reported 14- and 15-inch bluefish landed on jiggers Saturday morning. A few sea mullet and croaker were caught during the afternoon.

A good run of tailor bluefish developed Sunday morning, with the fish taken on jiggers and bucktails. Quite a few sea mullet were landed on bloodworms during the afternoon.

Some nice speckled trout were caught early Saturday on Nags Head Pier. The fish averaged 2 pounds and were caught on soft plastic lures and bucktails. Scattered blues also were taken.

Some nice sea mullet, toadfish and a few small speckled trout were landed later in the day. Fishing was slow Sunday, with only a few skates, mullet and tailor blues taken.

Anglers on Jeannette's Pier caught some nice sea mullet, toadfish and a few small speckled trout Saturday off and on. Some sea mullet were landed on the rising tide late Sunday morning, but late afternoon action was slow.

Fishing was slow on the Outer Banks Pier Saturday and Sunday, with only a few sea mullet, toadfish and 15-inch flounder taken.

South of Oregon Inlet, fishermen landed scattered toadfish, sea mullet, small blues and small spot Saturday on Rodanthe Pier. Fishing was slow on the pier Sunday, with a handful of mullet and small blues taken.

A good run of sea mullet developed on Avon pier Saturday afternoon. Only a few sea mullet were caught Sunday.

Frisco Pier reported a few nice sea mullet, flounder and scattered toadfish taken Saturday off and on. Mullet fishing was good Sunday until the wind shifted to the southeast.

Surfcasters from Corolla to Oregon Inlet caught a few small bottom fish and tailor blues on the rising tide Saturday and Sunday. Bottom fish and keeper flounder were landed by surf and bridge fishermen around Oregon Inlet.

Scattered sea mullet, small spot and tailor blues were hauled from the surf from Oregon Inlet to Buxton during the weekend.

Sea mullet were landed at Cape Point, but drum were scarce. Sea mullet and flounder were caught in the surf along the beach south of Cape Point during the weekend.

Bluefish were taken at Hatteras Inlet, and sea mullet and flounder were caught on bloodworms along the Frisco beaches Saturday.

Sea mullet fishing was good along the beach in front of the motels north of Hatteras Village Sunday. Tailor blues also were taken in the area.

Blue water action off Oregon Inlet was fair Saturday. Charters caught between six and 10 yellowfin tuna per boat.

Some dolphin and wahoo also were taken, including a 110-pound whopper wahoo landed by the Carolinean. Most of the action reported was well south of the inlet.

Fair numbers of yellowfin tuna, some dolphin and king mackerel were landed by the fleet Sunday. Several billfish were seen.

Charters off Hatteras caught a few tuna and some dolphin Saturday. Just about every boat had a wahoo on board. The headboat, Miss Hatteras, landed an excellent catch of triggerfish, sea bass, B-liners and a few groupers while bottom fishing below the 40000 Loran line.

Plenty of king mackerel weighing between 10 and 12 pounds were taken by charters between the 40175 and the 40180 Loran lines on bad bottom. A few tuna and dolphin also were taken by the fleet.

Sea mullet fishing along the northern beaches should continue to improve this week as water temperatures continue to rise.

The water temperature was 53.5 degrees Monday at the Army Corps of Engineers Pier in Duck, and 61 degrees at Frisco Pier on Hatteras Island.

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