DATE: Thursday, June 19, 1997               TAG: 9706190428

SECTION: LOCAL                   PAGE: B1   EDITION: NORTH CAROLINA 

COLUMN: Fishing on the Outer Banks

SOURCE: Damon Tatem

                                            LENGTH:   52 lines

PIER FISHING IMPROVES ALONG COAST

Pier fishing along the Dare Coast improved Wednesday.

Scattered bluefish and sea mullet were landed during the morning on Kitty Hawk Pier, and sand perch were caught in the afternoon.

Quite a few bluefish, some mullet and a few small gray trout were caught from Avalon Pier during most of the morning. A few blues and bottom fish were taken later in the day.

Nags Head Pier reported plenty of pigfish, a few mullet, some skates and a few keeper gray trout landed during the day.

Anglers on Jennette's Pier caught some nice sea mullet and tailor blues during the morning. Scattered mullet were decked throughout the afternoon.

Bluefish, speckled trout and gray trout were landed on Outer Banks Pier fairly steadily from sunrise until about 9 a.m. Afternoon fishing was slow.

On Hatteras Island, Rodanthe Pier reported plenty of bluefish and several Spanish mackerel landed during the morning. Fishing was slow the rest of the day.

Scattered spot and croaker were taken off and on during the day by anglers on Avon Pier.

Some nice Spanish mackerel were taken at sunrise on Frisco Pier. Small bluefish were caught later in the morning. Sea mullet, a few keeper gray trout and small blues were landed during the afternoon. A 31-inch cobia was released. Some small bottom fish were taken Wednesday by surfcasters along the northern beaches.

A few bottom fish, gray trout and small blues were landed around Oregon Inlet.

Scattered bluefish and sea mullet were taken by surf fishermen along the beach from Oregon Inlet to Buxton.

Cobia weighing 34 and 38 pounds were landed by surfcasters at Cape Point Tuesday night. Small bluefish and a few Spanish mackerel were taken Wednesday.

Small bluefish and flounder were hauled in by surf fishermen from Ramp 55 to Hatteras Inlet. Boaters in Hatteras Inlet caught plenty of Spanish mackerel.

Inshore trolling was good off Oregon Inlet, with plenty of small bluefish taken. Headboats operating outside the inlet reported good catches of triggerfish, tautog and sea bass.

Blue water action was good off Oregon Inlet. Forty- to 60-pound yellowfin tuna were plentiful near the point. A few tuna and plenty of dolphin were taken east of Oregon Inlet. A blue marlin was released by the Candlewick Lady.

Charters off Hatteras caught plenty of nice dolphin in deep water. A few wahoo also were taken. White marlin were released by the Cuz and the Reel Quick.

The water temperature was 65 degrees Wednesday at the Army Corps of Engineers Pier in Duck, and 66 degrees at Frisco Pier.

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