THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1996, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Sunday, February 11, 1996 TAG: 9602080171
SECTION: CAROLINA COAST PAGE: 18 EDITION: FINAL
COLUMN: Tight Lines
SOURCE: Damon Tatem
LENGTH: Short : 36 lines
Bluefin tuna action continued at a steady rate around ``the rockpile'' off the Diamond Shoals Light Tower from Jan. 29 through Feb. 2.
Strong winds, rough seas and freezing temperatures halted fishing for the next several days.
When fishing resumed Feb. 6, water temperatures on ``the rockpile'' had dropped into the mid-40s, resulting in quite a few bottom fish floating to the surface stunned.
Anglers failed to find any bluefin tuna in the chilly waters around ``the rockpile'' but were rewarded with scattered catches in deeper, warmer water 35 miles offshore.
The tuna were taken by fishermen trolling in the 69-degree water.
There has been no reported inshore action on the Nags Head beaches or in the Hatteras area because of low water temperatures.
The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Pier in Duck reports 36 1/2-degree water, and water temperatures in the upper 30s are reported in the Hatteras area.
Icy conditions in the Croatan Sound have put an end, at least temporarily, to angling efforts in the area around the Manns Harbor bridge.
Action was good before the cold weather, with 6- to 8-pound striped bass plentiful.
Fishing offshore and in the Manns Harbor area should improve when calm weather and moderate temperatures have prevailed for several days. by CNB