DATE: Friday, September 19, 1997            TAG: 9709191176

SECTION: LOCAL                   PAGE: B1   EDITION: NORTH CAROLINA 

COLUMN: FISHING ON THE OUTER BANKS

SOURCE: DAMON TATEM

                                            LENGTH:   51 lines

SURF FISHING WAS BOUNTIFUL, ANGLERS SAY

Surf fishing was good at most locations along the Outer Banks Thursday.

Small bottom fish, pompano and scattered flounder were landed along the northern beaches early in the morning. A few bottom fish and an occasional flounder were hauled in around Oregon Inlet.

Plenty of Spanish mackerel were taken in the surf from Rodanthe to Buxton late Wednesday. Spanish mackerel, small jacks, false albacore and a few sea mullet were landed early Thursday.

Good numbers of Spanish mackerel and bluefish were beached by surfcasters from Cape Point to north of Avon Pier early Thursday morning.

Scattered sea mullet were landed along the beach north of Cape Point during the day. A 3-pound, 7-ounce pompano also was landed in the area.

Fishing was slow along the beach from Ramp 55 to Hatteras Inlet.

In-shore trolling was good with Spanish mackerel, albacore and a few bluefish taken. Headboats in the area fished outside the inlet, landing sea bass, triggerfish and albacore.

Dolphin fishing was good in the Gulf Stream off Oregon Inlet. A few tuna were landed at the point.

Billfishing improved, with more than 25 releases reported, including three sailfish by the Hooker, two white marlin by the Pelican and a blue marlin and a white marlin by the Capt. B.C.

Bluefish and gray trout were landed by boaters in the Hatteras Inlet area. Hatteras Harbor Marina reported plenty of dolphin and wahoo caught by offshore charters.

Billfish releases numbered three sailfish by the Marlin Mania, one white marlin each by the Tuna Duck and the Harpers Folly, and a sailfish by the Fin Fantasy.

Pier fishing along the Dare Coast was slow Thursday.

Little action was reported from Kitty Hawk Pier or Avalon Pier although plenty of Spanish mackerel were seen.

A few Spanish mackerel, small blues and flounder were taken on Nags Head Pier.

Jennette's Pier reported good spot fishing Wednesday night. A few sea mullet and spot were taken Thursday.

Anglers on Outer Banks Pier caught a few black drum, one of which weighed 5 pounds, and some small flounder.

South of Oregon Inlet, albacore and a few Spanish mackerel were landed on Rodanthe Pier. Fishing was slow on Avon Pier.

Some Spanish mackerel and false albacore were decked on Frisco Pier early Thursday morning. Little action was reported later in the day.

The water temperature was 76 degrees Thursday at the Army Corps of Engineers Pier in Duck, and 79 degrees at Frisco Pier on Hatteras Island.

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