THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1996, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Sunday, March 31, 1996 TAG: 9603280161
SECTION: CAROLINA COAST PAGE: 18 EDITION: FINAL
COLUMN: Tight Lines
SOURCE: Damon Tatem
LENGTH: Short : 49 lines
Although water temperatures have remained in the lower 40s along the northern beaches recently, a slight warming trend has begun along the south beach of Hatteras.
Fair weather and southwest winds March 23 resulted in some early spring fishing action. A few puppy drum, some as long as 22 inches, were taken south of Cape Point during the morning. Water temperatures were reported to be 50 degrees in the area. Nevertheless, recreational fishing action in the area was slow March 24 and 25.
Commercial netters around Cape Point and along the south beach have caught a few puppy drum and scattered gray trout recently.
Striped bass fishing in the Croatan Sound along the Manns Harbor bridge was fair during the morning of March 23. Action improved a little, late in the afternoon, with some 5- to 8-pound fish taken close to the bridge. Anglers fishing from the bank adjacent to the bridge on Croatan Sound's western shore found fish to be scarce.
Fishing slowed a little the following day, as pretty weather brought plenty of boaters into the area looking for bass.
It appears that fair numbers of fish have begun their annual migration up the sound and into the river system.
Quite a few nice fish have been landed in the Alligator River area, and small fish have been plentiful around the Wright Memorial Bridge recently.
Bluefin tuna fishing was good south of ``the rockpile'' off Hatteras March 22 and 23. Some big yellowfins also appeared in catches March 23. The best yellowfin action was around the 280 rocks. Fishing was slow in the area the following day, however. Lots of fish were marked on fishfinders, but most seemed reluctant to bite.
Charters operating off Oregon Inlet reported fairly good catches of nice-sized yellowfin tuna March 23. Each boat took between six and 12 fish, some of which weighed more than 80 pounds.
Large tuna fish were scarce March 24, but smaller pup tuna were plentiful. The best action was between ``the point,'' southeast of Oregon Inlet, and the 40530 Loran line. MEMO: Damon Tatem covers Outer Banks fishing for The Carolina Coast. Send
comments and questions to him at P.O. Box 10, Nags Head, N.C. 27959. by CNB