THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Sunday, July 23, 1995 TAG: 9507200176
SECTION: CAROLINA COAST PAGE: 44 EDITION: FINAL
COLUMN: Tight Lines
SOURCE: Damon Tatem
LENGTH: Medium: 82 lines
Following a slow start, billfishing off the Dare Coast has improved dramatically. Blue and white marlin appeared in substantial numbers July 15 well southeast of the Diamond Shoals light tower. The Hatteras fleet released a dozen and saw many more. Action was excellent the following day, with around 35 billfish released. The boat reporting the most action was the Citation, with five white marlin releases.
By Sunday, the fish had moved north and were concentrated from the 40090 to the 40200 Loran lines in 100 to 140 fathoms of water.
Billfish action continued Monday at a steady rate, with a mixture of blue marlin, white marlin and sailfish released by the Hatteras fleet. White marlin were the most prevalent fish.
Releases included eight white marlin by the Citation, three white marlin by the Top Billing, two white marlin by the Sea Bear and two white marlin by the Release.
The Oregon Inlet and Pirate's Cove charter fleets have also had excellent luck releasing billfish south of the Diamond Shoals tower and around ``the point.'' At least 50 fish were released by the combined fleets on July 16.
The Top Dog, fishing out of Oregon Inlet Fishing Center, led the pack with six white marlin and two blue marlin released. The Outer Limits, fishing out of Pirate's Cove Marina, followed closely with six white marlin and one blue marlin released. Action was good again the following day, with Oregon Inlet charters releasing 30 white marlin, three blue marlin and two sailfish. Boats fishing out of Pirate's Cove had similar success. Releases included nine white marlin by the Sea Hag, two white and one blue marlin by the Phideaux, and four white marlin and a sailfish by the Sea Breeze. Some of the billfish released were taken from around ``the point,'' indicating a steady movement of the fish to the north.
Dolphin fishing off Oregon Inlet has been fair, with only an occasional limit reported. A few tuna and wahoo also have been taken.
Inshore trolling around Oregon Inlet has been slow, with some bluefish and very few Spanish mackerel taken. Headboat catches have held up well, with some good catches of croaker and small trout reported from the sound, and sea bass, triggerfish and pigfish from the ocean.
Pier action along the northern beaches has been fairly good. Anglers on Kitty Hawk Pier have caught some nice tailor blues on jiggers and bucktail rigs. Fifteen cobia were taken July 14 weighing between 20 and 68 pounds.
Avalon Pier fishermen have caught some bluefish, speckled trout, a few Spanish mackerel and cobia weighing up to 40 pounds.
From July 12 to 17, Nags Head Pier reported seven king mackerel weighing between 22 and 51 pounds, and four cobia weighing between 29 and 64 pounds. Nags Head Pier anglers also caught a mixture of bottom fish, bluefish and trout during the same period.
Small bottom fish, bluefish, a few trout and a 16-pound drum were landed on Jennette's Pier.
Fishermen on Outer Banks Pier have caught small bottom fish, bluefish, trout and flounder. Two 20-pound drum were decked July 13, an 18-pound king mackerel was landed July 14, and a 15-pound cobia was taken July 17.
On Hatteras Island, Rodanthe Pier anglers caught bottom fish, bluefish, six king mackerel weighing between 15 and 67 3/4 pounds, and a 5 3/4-pound Spanish mackerel. Small bottom fish have been taken on Avon Pier. Frisco Pier fishermen have landed some small bottom fish.
Surf fishing along the northern beaches has been good, with spot, croaker and sea mullet taken regularly on bloodworms. A good run of 1- to 2-pound speckled trout developed along the beach south of Kitty Hawk Pier July 16.
Some nice spot, flounder and small bluefish have been beached around Oregon Inlet. Small bottom fish, tailor blues and some pompano have been taken by surfcasters from Rodanthe to Buxton.
Spanish mackerel catches have been good at Cape Point just before dark. Some puppy drum have been landed in the evening, and pompano, bluefish, Spanish mackerel and flounder during the day.
Some spot, mullet and bluefish have been taken along the beach at Frisco. Anglers fishing the Hatteras Inlet area have caught tailor bluefish, gray trout and speckled trout up to 4 pounds. ILLUSTRATION: Staff photo by DREW C. WILSON
Seagulls appear to be directing a trio of anglers toward good
fishing as the three motor along Pamlico Sound last week.
by CNB