THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT  
              Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.

DATE: Friday, August 11, 1995                TAG: 9508110238
SECTION: LOCAL                    PAGE: B1   EDITION: NORTH CAROLINA 
COLUMN: FISHING ON THE OUTER BANKS
SOURCE: DAMON TATEM
                                             LENGTH: Short :   45 lines

BILLFISH AND SAILFISH TOOK THE BAIT THURSDAY

Billfishing was excellent off Oregon Inlet on Thursday. Charter boats released over 70 billfish. Most of the fish were white marlin. Dolphin fishing was slow and no tuna were reported taken.

Fishing in the Gulf Stream off Hatteras where seas were rough was considerably different. Some dolphin and a few wahoo were landed. Sailfish were released by the Hatterasser and the Flying Fish.

Inshore trolling around Oregon Inlet was great, with plenty of Spanish mackerel and bluefish taken. Most of the action was inside the sandbar. Headboats reported some large croaker, sea bass, and a few flounder landed.

Pier fishing along the northern beaches was fair on Thursday. On Kitty Hawk Pier, some nice-sized spot were taken throughout the day. A few croaker and blues were landed on Avalon Pier. Anglers on Nags Head Pier caught a few croakers, small blues and several nice pompano. During the morning, a few croaker, blues and flounder were landed on Jennette's Pier. Fishing was slow during the afternoon. On Outer Banks Pier, a few small blues, croakers and flounders were taken.

On Hatteras Island, fishermen on Rodanthe Pier caught some spot, croaker and sea mullet. Fishing was slow on Avon Pier. Lots of croakers and a few speckled trout were taken on Frisco Pier.

In the surf along the northern beaches, a few small bottom fish and tailor blues were landed. Rough seas along the beach south of Oregon Inlet kept fishing at a minimum. At Cape Point, a few puppy drum were landed on Wednesday night. On Thursday, a few bottom fish were landed along the beach south of Cape Point.

Bluefish and Spanish mackerel were plentiful in the surf around Hatteras Inlet on Thursday. Most of the fish were landed on metal lures.

Billfishing should be the best bet for weekend action along the Dare Coast.

Water temperature at the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Pier in Duck was 74.5 degrees on Thursday. by CNB