DATE: Wednesday, August 13, 1997            TAG: 9708131180

SECTION: LOCAL                   PAGE: B1   EDITION: NORTH CAROLINA 

COLUMN: FISHING ON THE OUTER BANKS 

SOURCE: Damon Tatem

                                            LENGTH:   49 lines

MIXTURE OF SMALL FISH MAKES FOFR FAIR ANGLING ON BEACHES

Pier fishing along the northern beaches was fair Tuesday, with a mixture of small fish taken.

Plenty of striped bass measuring between 20 and 24 inches in length were hooked and released Monday night from Kitty Hawk Pier. A few bluefish, spot, croaker and Spanish mackerel were landed Tuesday.

Anglers on Avalon Pier caught scattered Spanish mackerel, bluefish and a 7-pound, 2-ounce sheepshead.

A few bluefish and small bottom fish were landed on Nags Head Pier.

Fishermen on Jennette's Pier caught some small croaker during the morning and scattered bluefish in the afternoon.

Outer Banks Pier fishermen caught croaker and spot late Monday night. Scattered small pompano, bluefish and croaker were decked Tuesday.

On Hatteras Island, Rodanthe Pier reported a few spot landed.

A few croaker and spot were taken from Avon Pier off and on during the day.

A few Spanish mackerel and sea mullet were caught during the morning on Frisco Pier. Good numbers of Spanish mackerel weighing as much as 4 pounds were landed in the afternoon.

Surfcasters beached spot, small croaker, sea mullet and small pompano Tuesday along the northern beaches and around Oregon Inlet.

Anglers fishing from the Bonner Bridge catwalk and from the south side of Oregon Inlet caught scattered bottom fish, a few bluefish, some nice flounder and an occasional trout.

Spot, sea mullet, croaker and small bluefish were taken by surf fishermen from Rodanthe to Buxton.

Sea mullet and flounder were hauled from the surf along the beach north of Cape Point. Croaker and mullet were landed along the south beach.

Surf fishing from Frisco to Hatteras Inlet was slow.

Inshore trolling around Oregon Inlet was fair with Spanish mackerel and bluefish taken. Headboats in the inlet area landed pigfish and croaker.

Dolphin fishing was good at the point, southeast of Oregon Inlet. Scattered yellowfin tuna also were taken in the area. Fair numbers of billfish were released northeast of Oregon Inlet, including several blue marlin.

Spanish mackerel and king mackerel trolling was good off Hatteras Inlet Tuesday. A few scattered drum also were taken by boaters in the inlet area.

Plenty of dolphin and a few wahoo were taken off Hatteras in the Gulf Stream. Billfish releases included a sailfish each by the Nancy K. and the Citation.

The water temperature was 74 degrees Tuesday at the Army Corps of Engineers Pier in Duck and 77 degrees at Frisco Pier on Hatteras Island.

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