DATE: Wednesday, September 24, 1997         TAG: 9709240450

SECTION: LOCAL                   PAGE: B1   EDITION: NORTH CAROLINA 

COLUMN: FISHING ON THE OUTER BANKS

SOURCE: DAMON TATEM

                                            LENGTH:   56 lines

FRISCO PIER, CHARTER BOATS BEAT OUT A SLOW FISHING DAY

Anglers on Frisco Pier on Tuesday reported fairly steady fishing most of the day. A variety of fish were landed, including sea mullet, bluefish, pompano, spot and albacore.

Fishing was slow during the morning on Avon Pier but improved in the afternoon, with spot taken.

A few Spanish mackerel and albacore were decked on Rodanthe Pier. Several undersized puppy drum were released.

Following Monday's excellent spot fishing on piers along the northern beaches, Tuesday's action slowed dramatically.

Few fish were landed on Kitty Hawk Pier. Water in the area was fairly clear early in the day, and crystal clear water surrounded the pier by afternoon.

Avalon Pier reported several small puppy drum hooked and released during the day.

Anglers on Nags Head Pier caught a few spot and croaker during the morning. Afternoon fishing was slow.

Jennette's Pier reported slow fishing throughout the day with only a few bottom fish taken.

A few small puppy drum and flounder were released from Outer Banks Pier. Some small pompano, a few speckled trout and small bluefish were landed.

Surfcasters caught scattered small bottom fish along the northern beaches and around Oregon Inlet. The best action was on the rising tide.

Small bluefish, sea mullet and scattered puppy drum were landed in the surf from Rodanthe to Buxton.

A few Spanish mackerel were beached from the south side of Cape Point early in the day. Some nice puppy drum, lots of small flounder and a few keeper flounder were landed along the north beach.

Surf fishermen hauled in bluefish, gray trout, sea mullet and small puppy drum from Ramp 55 to Hatteras Inlet.

Headboats around Oregon Inlet landed fair catches of croaker, sea bass and flounder. Inshore trolling outside the inlet was fair, with a few albacore and king mackerel taken.

Dolphin fishing in the Gulf Stream was good east and southeast of Oregon Inlet. Charters alsolanded fairly good catches of tuna between the 40680 Loran line and the point.

Several billfish were released, including a blue marlin by the Sea Toy and a white marlin by the Fast Lane.

Boat fishing in the Hatteras Inlet area was good, with plenty of bluefish, flounder, gray trout and speckled trout taken.

Gulf Stream charters off Hatteras landed excellent catches of wahoo and dolphin. Billfishing was pretty good, with a blue marlin and a white marlin released by the Sea Creature.

Other releases included one sailfish each by the Citation, the Chaser and the Harpers Folly, and one white marlin each by the Nancy K. and the Top Billin'.

The water temperature was 74 degrees at the Army Corps of Engineers Pier in Duck and 75 degrees at Frisco Pier on Hatteras Island.

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