THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Tuesday, April 4, 1995 TAG: 9504040319
SECTION: LOCAL PAGE: B1 EDITION: NORTH CAROLINA
COLUMN: FISHING ON THE OUTER BANKS
SOURCE: Damon Tatem
LENGTH: Short : 44 lines
Cool temperatures kept anglers as scarce as the fish along the oceanfront over the weekend. Piers along the northern beaches reported some skates, dogfish and a few croakers taken. Most of the croakers, landed on squid or shrimp, were small.
Avalon Pier reported the big catch of the weekend, a 23-pound striped bass. The striper, taken on a bottom rig baited with squid, was released. The ocean striper season ended last Friday.
A few croakers and toadfish were taken in the surf around Oregon Inlet. On Hatteras Island, fair catches of toadfish have been reported from along the beach south of Cape Point. A few trout, both gray and speckled, were landed in the surf across from Cape Hatteras Lighthouse.
The best catches were produced on Rattle Traps, one of the standard striper baits generally used for trolling in the sound.
Offshore action was good on Saturday, with yellowfin tuna weighing from 15 to 40 pounds making up the bulk of the catch. A few dolphin also were taken.
Fishing was better on Sunday with charter boats out of Oregon Inlet catching limits of yellowfin tuna up to 50 pounds. Scattered dolphin were taken, and the charter boat, Marlin Fever, landed two wahoo.
Down on Hatteras Island, the headboat, Miss Hatteras, returned to the dock with a good catch of big blues. Anglers aboard the headboat also released three bluefin tuna.
The outlook for the upcoming week is mixed, as long-range forecasts indicate midweek winds and dropping temperatures. Until weather conditions deteriorate, croaker fishing on ocean piers should be the best bet, along with yellowfin action well offshore. MEMO: (This is the first of a summer fishing report planned Tuesday through
Saturday. The report is compiled by Damon M. Tatem, a tackle shop
operator for 25 years who is active in state fisheries panels).
by CNB