DATE: Tuesday, July 15, 1997                TAG: 9707150099

SECTION: LOCAL                   PAGE: B1   EDITION: NORTH CAROLINA 

COLUMN: FISHING ON THE OUTER BANKS 
SOURCE: Damon Tatem

                                            LENGTH:   86 lines

BILLFISH ACTION WAS STRONG ALONG COAST OVER WEEKEND

Billfish action was good during the weekend along the Dare coast.

Dolphin fishing was good off Oregon Inlet Saturday between the 40600 and the 40900 Loran lines. Tuna fishing was slow. Twenty-six billfish were released.

Three white marlin and a blue marlin were released by the Sea Toy, four white marlin were released by the Smoker and two white marlin were released by the Playmate.

A blue marlin was released by the First Crack and one white marlin each was released by the Gannett and the Surfside. Billfish action was between the 40800 and the 40900 Loran lines.

Billfish action was excellent well north of Oregon Inlet Sunday.

Releases included eight white marlin and one sailfish by the Hog Wild, a blue marlin and three white marlin by the Obsession, four white marlin by the Outer Limits and a blue marlin and a white marlin by the Pelican.

Dolphin fishing also was good.

Dennis Twiford, Steve Beunis and Buddy Creef, fishing between the 40815 and the 40835 Loran lines in Twiford's boat, the Impatience, landed 40 dolphin and released a sailfish Sunday.

Dolphin fishing was excellent and wahoo fishing very good off Hatteras Saturday. Billfishing was good from the 40150 Loran line to the rockpile.

Releases included three blue marlin by the Big Eye, one blue marlin each by the Chaser and the Gecko, and three white marlin and a sailfish by the Fin Fantasy.

A blue marlin and a sailfish were released by the Sea Creature, a blue marlin and a white marlin were released by the Tuna Duckand two white marlin were released by the Top Billing.

A white marlin was released by the Connector and one sailfish each was released by the Capt. B. and the Wahoo.

Dolphin fishing and wahoo action was good again Sunday in the Gulf Stream off Hatteras. A number of billfish were released, including blue marlin by the Brothers Pride and the Marlin Mania and white marlin by the Chaser and the Old Salt.

Pier fishing was slow Saturday and Sunday along the northern beaches, but somewhat better south of Oregon Inlet.

Anglers on Kitty Hawk Pier caught a few pigfish, small flounder, several bluefish and a few Spanish mackerel Saturday. Two jacks were released. Seas were flat and fishing was very slow Sunday.

Avalon Pier reported a handful of blues and Spanish mackerel landed early Saturday morning. Little else was taken during the rest of the day.

A 68-pound cobia was caught by Steve McCarthy of Pittsburgh, on a live bluefish Sunday morning. Otherwise fishing was nonexistent.

Anglers on Nags Head Pier caught a few spot and small gray trout, and released lots of undersized flounder Saturday. Scattered spot and bluefish were landed Sunday.

Jennette's Pier reported little action throughout the day Saturday. Fishing was slow Sunday, with only a few bluefish and speckled trout taken.

Scattered spot and croaker were landed Saturday morning on Outer Banks Pier. Only a few small bottom fish were taken during the afternoon. A few small bottom fish and bluefish were taken Sunday.

South of Oregon Inlet, fishermen on Rodanthe Pier, where the water was dirty, caught quite a few spot and croaker, several 14- to 16-inch gray trout and fair numbers of nice sea mullet Saturday.

A few bottom fish, bluefish, several pompano and an 11-pound king mackerel were landed Sunday.

Lots of small croaker were taken throughout the weekend on Avon Pier.

A 53-pound cobia was landed by Justin Curcio of Hatteras from Frisco Pier Saturday morning. Some 3-pound spadefish, a few Spanish mackerel, tailor blues and some nice sea mullet were taken in the afternoon.

A 38-pound king mackerel was decked Sunday morning and a barracuda was lost. A few bottom fish were landed during the afternoon.

Surf fishing along the northern beaches and around Oregon Inlet was fair during the weekend, with scattered small bottom fish taken.

Croaker and small bluefish were landed Saturday morning in the surf from Rodanthe to Buxton. A few croaker were taken during the afternoon and Sunday.

Lots of small croaker and a few spot were beached at Cape Point Saturday. Croaker, a few bluefish and several keeper flounder were hauled from the surf Sunday.

Fishing was slow from Ramp 55 to Hatteras Inlet Saturday. A few bluefish, small bottom fish and keeper flounder were landed Sunday.

Inshore trolling and headboat fishing were slow around Oregon Inlet Saturday.

Plenty of jacks were landed around the 65-degree tower Sunday. Intermediate charters caught plenty of king mackerel and scattered dolphin on tide lines a few miles offshore.

The water temperature was 75 degrees Monday at the Army Corps of Engineers Pier in Duck and 79 degrees at Frisco Pier on Hatteras Island.

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