THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Sunday, November 5, 1995 TAG: 9511050245
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: C15 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: BY BOB HUTCHINSON, OUTDOORS EDITOR
DATELINE: BUXTON, N.C. LENGTH: Short : 33 lines
Wayne Mathis of Atlanta pulled a 2-pound, 15-ounce puppy drum through the breakers of Hatteras Island on Saturday morning for the top catch in the individual segment of the Cape Hatteras Surf Fishing Tournament.
It was one of the smallest ``heaviest fish'' in the contest's 38 years. Often, it takes an adult red drum, also known simply as drum or channel bass, to win. These fish can weigh 30 pounds or more. Those under 15 pounds are known as puppy drum.
The day's largest sea mullet was a 2-pound, 3-ounce catch by Steve Monahan of Berlin, N.J. That was a big one - large enough to earn a citation award from the North Carolina Salt Water Fishing Tournament.
Joan Pittman of Virginia Beach had the day's top bluefish at 1 pound, 3 ounces, and Bo Newell of Raleigh the heaviest flounder at 2 pounds, 1 ounce.
The only winner in the junior division was Crystal Ainsworth of Ocean City, N.J., with a 5-ounce sea mullet.
The Rising Tides surf fishing team from Nags Head won the two-day team competition, which ended Friday. The six team members beached 18 fish and scored 155 points.
The team also won last month's Nags Head Surf Fishing Tournament with 18 fish and 56 points. Fish are scored by length.
This week's contest was staged by the Cape Hatteras Anglers Club. by CNB