THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Tuesday, August 15, 1995 TAG: 9508150388
SECTION: LOCAL PAGE: B1 EDITION: NORTH CAROLINA
COLUMN: Fishing on the Outer Banks
SOURCE: Damon Tatem
LENGTH: Medium: 62 lines
Billfishing was excellent over the weekend northeast of Oregon Inlet. On Saturday, a few charter boats made the long trip above the ``Triple Zero,'' finding good concentrations of white marlin between the 41280 and 41300 Loran lines.
The Tar Heel and the Pelican each released four white marlin. Numerous white marlin were seen in the area, and charter boats got six to 10 shots at the fish.
Sunday's action in the same area was very good. The Alise Kelly Ladies Only Tournament on Sunday produced 60 billfish releases. The winner was the Sea Toy with seven white marlin releases, followed by the Fintastic with four white marlin releases, the Grand Slam with three white marlin releases and the Le Bait with a grand slam.
A number of non-tournament boats also reported good hauls. Six white marlin were released by the Fight-n-Lady and three sailfish by the Surfside. The largest blue marlin reported recently weighed 965 pounds and was landed Sunday by Sandy Griffin of Nags Head, who was fishing aboard the Sea Witch, captained by her husband, Charlie.
Dolphin fishing was fair Saturday off of Oregon Inlet. Action improved Sunday with some limits of dolphin taken, along with a few tuna.
Bluewater fishing off Hatteras was slow over the weekend. Scattered dolphin, tuna and wahoo were taken. A few billfish were released.
Inshore trawling around the inlet has been fair. Most of the Spanish mackerel and bluefish taken have been landed west of the Oregon Inlet bridge and in the Wanchese channel area.
Head boats concentrated efforts in the Croatan Sound on Saturday. Big croaker and small gray trout were plentiful.
Pier fishing along the northern beaches was good Saturday. On Kitty Hawk Pier a few spot and croaker were taken. Anglers on Avalon landed numerous bottom fish, a few blues and some small Spanish mackerel. Lots of spot, small croaker, a few blues and trout were taken on Nags Head Pier. Jennette's Pier reported plenty of spot on Saturday.
Action slowed Sunday with a few spot, croaker and trout landed.
Outer Banks pier fishermen caught spot at a steady rate throughout the weekend.
On Hatteras Island, Rodanthe Pier reported some spot and croaker landed. Kings weighing 25 and 39 pounds were decked Saturday. On Avon Pier a few bottom fish were taken. Anglers on Frisco Pier caught spot, croaker, blues and lots of Spanish mackerel weighing up to 7 pounds Sunday.
In the surf, croaker and spot were fairly plentiful from Corolla to Oregon Inlet. Around Oregon Inlet croaker and keeper gray trout were taken. Along the beach from Rodanthe to Buxton, croaker and tailor blues were landed. At Cape Point some small bottom fish and a few puppy drum were beached. Flounder, Spanish mackerel and small blues were taken around Hatteras Inlet.
If seas aren't too rough today, bottom fishing should be good from piers along the northern beaches.
Water temperatures at the Corps of Engineers Pier in Duck was 77 degrees Monday. by CNB