The Virginian-Pilot
                             THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT 
              Copyright (c) 1996, Landmark Communications, Inc.

DATE: Wednesday, May 1, 1996                 TAG: 9605010555
SECTION: LOCAL                    PAGE: B1   EDITION: NORTH CAROLINA 
COLUMN: FISHING ON THE OUTER BANKS 
SOURCE: Damon Tatem
                                             LENGTH: Short :   49 lines

WINDY FISHING ISN'T NECESSARILY BAD FISHING

Strong gusty winds discouraged pier fishermen Tuesday, but didn't keep fish from biting.

Anglers on Kitty Hawk Pier caught plenty of sea mullet near the end of the pier during most of the morning. A few scattered mullet were landed in the afternoon.

Sea mullet and skates were taken from Avalon Pier throughout the day.

Nags Head Pier reported good sea mullet fishing during the morning, but strong winds reduced angling efforts during the afternoon.

Some sea mullet and spot were landed off and on during the day on Outer Banks Pier.

On Hatteras Island, Rodanthe Pier reported good sea mullet fishing. Most of the fish were taken on either bloodworms or squid.

Avon Pier reported good fishing, with sea mullet, croaker, spot, gray trout, small flounder and a 27-inch drum landed.

Fishing was slow on Frisco Pier because of the strong southwest winds. Only a few mullet and one puppy drum were taken.

Lots of blowing sand along the beach from Corolla to Oregon Inlet made surf fishing difficult. Persistent anglers caught a few bottom fish out of the muddy water.

Scattered bottom fish were taken around Oregon Inlet. Some speckled trout were landed off the catwalk, along with a few small gray trout.

A few sea mullet and other assorted bottom fish were taken along the beach from Rodanthe to Buxton. Fishing conditions were poor because of the strong southwest winds.

Plenty of big drum were beached at Cape Point Monday night. Scattered drum, sea mullet and small bluefish were landed Tuesday.

Surf fishing was slow from Cape Point to False Point because of strong winds.

Gale force winds caused charter boats from Hatteras and Oregon Inlet to stay at the dock Tuesday.

The water temperature was 52 degrees Monday at the Army Corps of Engineers Pier in Duck, and 68 degrees at Frisco Pier on Hatteras Island.

Speckled trout action should improve in the sound when winds go around to a more easterly direction. by CNB