THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Sunday, November 12, 1995 TAG: 9511090164
SECTION: CAROLINA COAST PAGE: 24 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: DAMON TATEM
LENGTH: Medium: 90 lines
A DROP in water temperature and improved water clarity has produced increased speckled trout and sea mullet action along the Outer Banks recently.
Anglers on Kitty Hawk Pier have landed a mixture of sea mullet, puppy drum, tailor bluefish and speckled trout. The best trout fishing was Nov. 6, when plenty of fish weighing as much as 4 pounds were taken throughout the morning. A good run of puppy drum developed later in the day. Some striped bass weighing between 10 and 15 pounds also have been hooked and released from the pier.
Avalon Pier reported a good run of speckled trout early in the day Nov. 2 and again Nov. 6. Quite a few puppy drum, some weighing as much as 8 1/2 pounds, were taken late in the afternoon Nov. 5. Some sizable stripers were landed and released during the puppy drum run.
Small speckled trout were plentiful on Nags Head Pier Nov. 5 and 6. Sea mullet fishing has been fairly good. What has been lacking in quantity has been made up for in quality, with some nice fish landed weighing more than a pound. Striped bass also have made an apperance at Nags Head Pier, with an 18 1/2-pounder released by Brad Bradley of Nags Head Nov. 5. The fish bit a trout lure.
A 15-pound striped bass was released by George Walin of Winston-Salem from Jennette's Pier Nov. 5. Speckled trout weighing between 2 and 3 pounds were taken fairly regularly during the afternoon the same day, and also on the following day. Most of the fish were taken on bucktails, including the striper.
Anglers on Outer Banks Pier have caught black drum, bluefish, sea mullet, spot, croaker, speckled trout and skate. Good runs of small speckled trout were reported from the pier Nov. 2 and Nov. 6.
South of Oregon Inlet, Rodanthe Pier fishermen have landed scattered bluefish, sea mullet, puppy drum and some nice spot.
Sea mullet fishing has been good on Avon Pier, with fish weighing as much as 2 pounds. Black drum, puppy drum and speckled trout also have been landed. A 45-pound drum was released the night of Nov. 3.
Frisco Pier reported good catches of 5- to 8-pound puppy drum Nov. 1. Anglers also have caught some black drum, sea mullet, small bluefish and croaker.
Speckled trout fishing in the surf along the northern beaches has improved recently. Speckled trout weighing as much as 5 pounds were taken north of Kitty Hawk Pier Nov. 6. Action also was reported from sloughs north of Avalon Pier and Nags Head Pier.
Some big sea mullet, puppy drum and tailor blues have been beached around Oregon Inlet. Sizable stripers have been landed and released from the beach, the revetment and around the Bonner Bridge.
Sea mullet and puppy drum fishing has been outstanding along the beach from Rodanthe to Buxton. Ramp 34 has been particularly good for sea mullet. Bluefish, black drum, speckled trout and a few large drum also have been taken by surfcasters.
Nighttime drum fishing was good at Cape Point Nov. 1, 2 and 3, with a mixture of big and small fish landed. Anglers fishing during the day at the Cape have caught scattered puppy drum, tailor blues, black drum, flounder and sea mullet.
Sea mullet, bluefish, puppy drum, black drum and keeper flounder have been taken in fair numbers along the beach from Frisco to Hatteras Inlet.
Striped bass fishing has been excellent in the Croatan Sound. Fish 21 to 22 inches in length have been abundant, with anglers hooking and releasing them steadily almost every day. Most of the fish have been taken on Rat-L-Traps and bucktails.
King mackerel fishing has been fair in the area surrounding the 70-degree tower off Oregon Inlet. Bluewater charters have caught fair numbers of yellowfin tuna, a few wahoo and some dolphin north of ``the point,'' southeast of Oregon Inlet. Two 120-pound class big eye tuna were landed by the Flying Fisherman Nov. 1. An 84-pound wahoo was landed by the Temptress, and a blue marlin with an estimated weight of 500 pounds was released by the Capt. B.C. Nov. 3. A blue marlin with an estimated weight of 800 pounds was released by the Country Girl Nov. 6.
Hatteras offshore charters have reported good catches east of Avon of king mackerel weighing between 15 and 50 pounds. Most of the fish have been taken on live bait. Hatteras charters fishing the Gulf Stream have landed a few tuna and wahoo.
The Atlantic Ocean season on striped bass should open soon. It appears that this will once again become a viable fishery, as the population has surged to good levels since the fishing moratorium of the late 1980s. Anglers can help maintain this improved fishery by obeying regulations, practicing catch and release fishing and by keeping only what can be eaten. ILLUSTRATION: Staff photo by DREW C. WILSON
Anglers line the end of the Nags Head Fishing Pier in Nags Head
recently as the sun rises over the horizon.
by CNB