THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Sunday, October 1, 1995 TAG: 9509280196
SECTION: CAROLINA COAST PAGE: 32 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: Damon Tatem
LENGTH: Medium: 83 lines
PIER ANGLERS along the Dare Coast have experienced some of the best spot fishing in recent years, and puppy drum action hasn't been far behind.
Kitty Hawk Pier fishermen have caught nice spot daily since Sept. 19. The only exception was on Sept. 23, when sea conditions made fishing virtually impossible. Some big croaker, scattered bluefish, speckled trout and a few puppy drum also have been taken.
A mixture of spot, bluefish, puppy drum and some speckled trout weighing as much as 4 1/2 pounds have been landed from Avalon Pier.
Nags Head Pier has reported some good runs of spot. Spanish mackerel, tailor blues, big croaker and a few speckled trout and some puppy drum weighing as much as 12 pounds have also been taken. A 2 3/4-pound pompano was landed from the pier by Marvin Moore of Weaverville, N.C., on Sept. 22.
Anglers on Jennette's Pier caught spot two at a time throughout the day Sept. 22. A few sea mullet, pompano, bluefish and small red and black drum also have been landed.
Fair numbers of 5- to 6-pound puppy drum have been caught from Outer Banks Pier. Some 2-pound croaker and nice spot were landed from the pier Sept. 24 and 25. Most of the croaker hit cut bait.
South of Oregon Inlet, Rodanthe Pier reported lots of puppy drum activity. Five- to 10-pound fish were taken two at a time Sept. 19. Some nice spot, big croaker, small bluefish and a few Spanish mackerel also have been landed. Scattered blues and keeper puppy drum have been taken on cut bait from Avon Pier.
Frisco Pier fishermen have caught scattered puppy drum and a few trout. Two- to 3-pound bluefish were particularly abundant during the afternoon of Sept. 24.
Although the surf has been a little rough most days along the northern beaches, some fairly good bottom fishing for spot, croaker and tailor bluefish has been reported. A few speckled trout were landed by surfcasters north of both Kitty Hawk and Avalon piers Sept. 21. A handful were beached in the South Nags Head area Sept. 22.
Puppy drum and bottom fish were taken in good quantities from the south side of Oregon Inlet, east of the bridge Sept. 23. Fishing was good in the area again the following day, with nice spot and speckled trout hauled from the old Coast Guard channel. Trout fishing was exceptionally good in Green Island Slough throughout the day Sept. 24.
Anglers fishing the beach just south of the revetment have reported recent good catches of puppy and yearling drum. The best action has been after sunset.
Surf fishing from Ramp 55 through Hatteras Inlet has been good. Keeper gray trout have been taken at night on cut bait. Some good catches of 28- to 30-inch puppy drum, tailor blues and nice flounder have been reported.
After a period of slow fishing, inshore trolling around Oregon Inlet improved Sept. 23 with the arrival of plenty of keeper bluefish. Good catches of blues along with a few nice Spanish mackerel continued to be landed by half-day charters through Sept. 25.
Headboat fishing along Oregon Inlet has been fair, with big croaker taken near the Bonner Bridge during periods of slack tide.
The headboat Miss Hatteras reported good catches of triggerfish, beeliners and amberjack in the deep water off Hatteras Sept. 22. Action was slow the next couple of days because of rough seas.
Poor weather has restricted bluewater fishing in the Gulf Stream off Oregon Inlet recently. Charters managed to go offshore Sept. 21 and returned with fair numbers of dolphin, tuna and wahoo. Six bluefish were released. Action on the following day was about the same, but with fewer billfish released.
No trips were attempted Sept. 23 or 24 due to rough seas. 25. Although billfishing was slow, tuna fishing improved dramatically, with charters landing between eight and 20 yellowfins per boat.
Dolphin and wahoo fishing has been strong off Hatteras when the weather has permitted. Blue marlin were released Sept 22. by the Top Billing, Chapin, Albatross III and the Outlaw.
As coastal water temperatures drop, spot fishing along the Outer Banks should diminish, and sea mullet, puppy drum and flounder action should improve as more fish move out of the sounds and along the beach. ILLUSTRATION: Staff photo by DREW C. WILSON
Troy Phelps, 24, of Chesapeake, Va., brings in spot two at a time
during a flurry of good fishing on Outer Banks piers this past
week.
by CNB