THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Sunday, July 2, 1995 TAG: 9506290252
SECTION: CAROLINA COAST PAGE: 40 EDITION: FINAL
COLUMN: Tight Lines
SOURCE: Damon Tatem
LENGTH: Medium: 78 lines
The northern beach area of the Outer Banks has experienced some of the best pier fishing on record for cobia and king mackerel recently.
Forty-four cobia, averaging from 20 to 72 pounds, were landed from ocean piers in Kitty Hawk, Kill Devil Hills and Nags Head from June 20 through June 26. Seventeen king mackerel, weighing from 17 to 54 pounds, were taken during the same period. Most of the big fish have been caught on live bait, such as bluefish or menhaden. Light onshore winds and warm clear water have contributed to the unusually strong showing of these beautiful fish.
Pier anglers on Hatteras Island have shared in the bonanza, landing a dozen cobia and five king mackerel. Most of the action has been reported from Rodanthe Pier.
Bottom fishing has been fair on piers along the northern beaches, with anglers landing croaker, spot and pigfish. The best action has been on the incoming tide, and the most productive bait has been bloodworms.
Early morning and late afternoon runs of small bluefish and Spanish mackerel also have been occurring fairly regularly. Speckled trout action has been a hit-or-miss proposition. Nags Head Pier reported a fairly good run of keeper speckled trout, lasting about two hours Sunday afternoon. Green plastic artificials seemed to be the bait of preference.
On Hatteras Island, anglers on Rodanthe Pier have landed bottom fish, small blues and a few Spanish mackerel, along with several cobia and king mackerel. Avon Pier has reported small bottom fish and a few bluefish taken recently. Fishermen on Frisco Pier have landed bottom fish, blues, flounder and sheepshead.
Surf fishing along the northern beaches has been fair. Clear water has limited action to early mornings and late afternoons. Anglers have caught small coraker, spot, flounder and a few pompano. Some nice-sized mullet have been taken on sand fleas.
Action along the beach south of Rodanthe has been good, with bottom fish and small bluefish plentiful. Some big pompano have been landed from sloughs between ramps 23 and 27. Some bottom fish, small blues and Spanish mackerel have been beached at Cape Point. The best of the Spanish mackerel fishing has been just before dark. Bottom fishing has been good along the beach in the Frisco area.
On Ocracoke Island, flounder fishing has been good from the South Point. Small bottom fish have been fairly plentiful elsewhere along the beach. Some puppy drum have been landed late in the afternoon and after dark from both ends of the island.
Headboat action around Oregon Inlet has been good. Trips inside the sound have produced nice catches of croaker and, on several occasions, some nice gray trout and keeper flounder. Triggerfish and sea bass have been plentiful outside the inlet, from areas with rough bottoms. The headboat Miss Hatteras, fishing from Odens Dock, has caught plenty of triggerfish and dolphin on recent full-day wreck trips.
Dolphin fishing has been exceptionally good off Oregon Inlet. Most charters have landed their limits of mixed-sized fish in short order. Yellowfin tuna fishing has been slow. Although many fish have been seen, most aren't interested in eating. Some have been taken on surface plugs when other baits have failed to produce.
Big bluefin tuna showed up well northeast of the inlet recently. Although a number of people lost fish and tackle, several jumbos were taken. These included a 572-pounder aboard the First Crack, a 617-pounder by the Obsession and a 512-pounder by the Suspense.
Off Hatteras Island, dolphin fishing has been excellent. Yellowfin tuna action has been spotty. Some good catches of 40- to 60-pound fish were taken on June 24, but few were caught the next day. A few wahoo have been taken, along with scattered blue marlin, white marlin and sailfish. During the recent 36th annual Hatteras Marlin Tournament, 57 boats released a total of 30 billfish, including 16 blue marlin, 12 white marlin and two sailfish. ILLUSTRATION: Staff photo by DREW C. WILSON
Kevin Holland shows off the 62-lb. king mackerel he caught on
Tuesday.
by CNB