THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Tuesday, November 28, 1995 TAG: 9511280417
SECTION: LOCAL PAGE: B1 EDITION: NORTH CAROLINA
COLUMN: Fishing on the Outer Banks
SOURCE: Damon Tatem
LENGTH: Medium: 75 lines
Striped bass action dominated the fishing scene along the Outer Banks during the weekend.
Nags Head Pier reported the best striper action in the area since the early '70s. About 100 medium-sized fish were landed, and hundreds were lost Saturday during the run which lasted virtually all day. The striped bass hit just about anything thrown overboard. Action ground to a halt Sunday, however.
More than 20 28-to-36-inch stripers were landed Saturday on Kitty Hawk Pier. Gusty winds and rough seas caused the loss of many bass that normally would have been landed. Although the weather improved Sunday, practically nothing was landed from the pier.
Fishermen on Avalon Pier landed a 14-pound striper Saturday, along with some small bluefish. Several bass were decked Sunday, but fishing was slow overall due to dirty water.
Fishermen on Jennette's Pier also reported plenty of striper action. Seven nice fish were landed, and at least 40 were lost Saturday. A 31-inch striper was taken, and several were lost Sunday. A 4-pound gray trout also was landed Sunday.
Fishing was slow Saturday on Outer Banks Pier. A 30-inch striper was landed Sunday, and several undersized puppy drum were caught and released.
South of Oregon Inlet, an angler on Rodanthe Pier caught a 15.25- pound striper Saturday. Some nice sea mullet and one keeper flounder were taken Sunday.
Avon Pier reported slow fishing during the weekend because of rough seas and dirty water.
Some small black drum were landed by anglers on Frisco Pier Saturday. Plenty of speckled trout and scattered sea mullet were taken Sunday. The best trout action was in the morning.
Surf fishing was slow from Corolla to Oregon Inlet during the weekend because of rough seas and murky water. A few stripers were taken at scattered locations. Several good catches of tailor bluefish were taken Saturday by anglers who braved the windy conditions.
Several stripers and a few trout were landed around Oregon Inlet. A good run of stripers developed on the north side of the inlet late Sunday afternoon. Some stripers and a few trout were beached in the inlet area early Monday.
Boaters in the area caught a few stripers Saturday morning east of the bridge. Fishing was slow Sunday morning, but a good run of bass developed late in the afternoon.
Some black drum, small bluefish and a few stripers were taken along the beach from Rodanthe to Buxton.
Some stripers were taken at Cape Point Saturday, and trout were beached near the Cape Hatteras lighthouse. A 48 1/2-inch drum was caught by John Griffin of Suffolk. Scattered trout were dragged from the surf near the lighthouse Sunday.
Sea mullet fishing was good in the Frisco area Saturday. Speckled trout from 2 to 4 pounds were landed by surf fishermen north of Frisco Pier and near Ramp 55 Sunday morning.
At Manns Harbor, striper fishing was good Saturday but slow Sunday. The Manns Harbor area regularly produces good action during windy weather when currents are strong around the bridge.
Although charter craft remained at the dock Saturday, a few sailed to the Gulf Stream Sunday. The Oregon Inlet and Pirates Cove charters reported mixed sizes of yellowfin tuna taken from the 40530 to the 40680 Loran lines. A few wahoo and dolphin also were taken.
Hatteras charters caught plenty of big king mackerel Sunday. The best action was around the wrecks. The headboat Miss Hatteras reported a good catch of king mackerel, dolphin, albacore and an 83-pound cobia.
Speckled trout action should improve along the Dare Coast as soon as inshore waters clear.
The water temperature at the Army Corps of Engineers Pier in Duck was 53 degrees Monday. by CNB