THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Sunday, August 20, 1995 TAG: 9508170237
SECTION: CAROLINA COAST PAGE: 44 EDITION: FINAL
COLUMN: Tight Lines
SOURCE: Damon Tatem
LENGTH: Medium: 71 lines
Billfish action has been excellent well northeast of Oregon Inlet recently.
Light northeast winds set the stage for a good white marlin run Aug. 10.
More than 70 billfish were released by the Oregon Inlet and Pirate's Cove fleets.
Rough seas over the next two days put a damper on action, but the few boats braving the elements released fair numbers of fish.
Conditions improved Aug. 13, and fishing resumed. About 60 billfish were released during the 6th annual Alice Kelly Ladies-Only tournament.
The best fishing was above the triple zeros from the 41280 to the 41300 Loran lines.
The winning boat was the Sea Toy, with seven white marlin releases.
Four white marlin were released by the Fintastic, which took second-place honors.
The Grand Slam was in third, with three white marlin released.
Non-tournament boats also listed good catches, including six white marlin by the Fight 'N' Lady and three sailfish by the Surfside.
One of the largest blue marlin reported recently weighed 965 pounds and was landed by Sandy Griffin of Nags Head.
The fish was taken aboard the Sea Witch out of Oregon Inlet Fishing Center.
Sandy's husband, Charley Griffin, is the captain of the Sea Witch.
Dolphin fishing off Oregon Inlet has been fair, with only an occasional limit reported. Scattered tuna and a few wahoo have been taken.
Fair numbers of dolphin, a few tuna and wahoo have been landed off Hatteras. Billfishing has been spotty.
A blue marlin was released by the Top Billing, a white marlin by the Citation and a sailfish by the Bullfrog Aug. 12.
Inshore trolling around Oregon Inlet hasn't been dependable. Most of the Spanish mackerel and bluefish landed have been small.
The best action has been in channels west of the Bonner Bridge.
Headboats have reported good catches of large croaker in the Manns Harbor area near the bridge.
Fair numbers of pigfish, small bluefish and little gray trout also have been taken in the area.
Speckled trout fishing has been good behind Duck Island and along the flats around Oregon Inlet during periods of onshore winds.
Pier fishing along the northern beaches has been generally good, with croaker and spot dominating the picture. A few bluefish, flounder and trout have been taken, but Spanish mackerel have been scarce. Spot fishing was exceptionally good Aug. 14 and 15 as Hurricane Felix approached the area.
On Hatteras Island, pier fishing has been fair, with mainly small bottom fish taken. King mackerel weighing 25 and 39 pounds were landed from Rodanthe Pier Aug. 12.
Spanish mackerel have not been plentiful, but a notable run developed Aug. 13 at Frisco Pier. Plenty of Spanish mackerel weighing up to 7 pounds were taken, mainly on jiggers.
Surf fishing along the beach from Corolla to Oregon Inlet has been good for spot, croaker and small mullet. Some nice croaker, small bluefish and keeper gray trout have been taken recently around Oregon Inlet's north side.
Surf fishermen from Rodanthe to Buxton have landed croaker, tailor blues, spot and a few gray trout. Bottom fish and a few puppy drum have been beached at Cape Point.
Small flounder, blues and Spanish mackerel have been landed fairly regularly around Hatteras Inlet. Puppy drum action should improve in the Hatteras area when water temperatures fall. by CNB