The Virginian-Pilot
                            THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT  
              Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.

DATE: Friday, April 21, 1995                 TAG: 9504210504
SECTION: LOCAL                    PAGE: B1   EDITION: NORTH CAROLINA 
COLUMN: FISHING ON THE OUTER BANKS
SOURCE: DAMON TATEM
                                             LENGTH: Short :   41 lines

WIND SHIFT GIVES HEFTY LIFT TO PIER FISHING

A wind shift to the northeast made a big difference in the quality of pier fishing along the northern beaches Thursday.

Anglers on Kitty Hawk Pier landed quite a few two- to three-pound speckled trout on green plastic artificial lures during the morning. Some tailor blues, trout and lots of toadfish were taken in the afternoon.

Other local piers also reported similar runs of trout early in the day.

Fishermen on Outer Banks Pier and Jennette's Pier caught spot, small flounder, croaker, blues and sea mullet during the afternoon.

Sea mullet and toadfish were plentiful on piers along Hatteras Island.

In the surf, some speckled trout were landed from sloughs south of Kitty Hawk Pier.

Action was also reported from deeper holes along Nags Head Beach.

Surfcasters on Hatteras Island caught plenty of sea mullet, blowtoads and scattered flounder. Two jumbo blues were beached near Ramp 27.

Several dozen drum were taken Wednesday night at Cape Point. Ted Frissell and Tom Burke of Nags Head were among those landing 45 pounders. Most of the catches were released.

Well offshore, southeast of Oregon Inlet, yellowfin tuna fishing was excellent with most charters catching the limits. A few gaffer dolphin were also taken.

Weekend fishing should be good, with trout and small bottom fish plentiful along the northern beaches. Plenty of mullet should be available on Hatteras Island, with drum after dark at Cape Point.

Exceptional tuna fishing should continue around ``the Point'' and south, providing winds remain moderate.

Water temperatures at the Corps of Engineers Pier in Duck Thursday was 53 degrees. by CNB