THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT 
              Copyright (c) 1996, Landmark Communications, Inc.

DATE: Wednesday, April 17, 1996              TAG: 9604170380
SECTION: LOCAL                    PAGE: B1   EDITION: NORTH CAROLINA 
COLUMN: Fishing on the Outer Banks
SOURCE: Damon Tatem
                                             LENGTH: Short :   37 lines

IT WAS A GOOD DAY TO REMAIN ON THE PIERS AND TO THE NORTH

Pier fishing was fair along the Northern Beaches Tuesday. On Kitty Hawk pier a few sea mullets were taken during the afternoon. Avalon pier also reported some sea mullets landed late in the day along with some small croakers and skates.

Some sea mullet, sand perch and skates were caught by fishermen on Nags Head pier during the morning. Action was slow in the afternoon. Outer Banks Pier reported scattered croakers, sea mullets and skates taken throughout the day.

On Hatteras Island fishing was slow on Rodanthe pier with only a few small croakers landed. Avon pier reported fair numbers of sea mullets, croakers and toadfish during the afternoon when skies cleared. Some nice gray trout, sea mullet, small spot and croakers were landed from Frisco pier throughout the afternoon.

Windy conditions kept surf fishing action at a minimum from Corolla to Oregon Inlet yesterday. A few blowtoads and skates were caught along the beach from Rodanthe to Buxton. At Cape Point a few sea mullet, toadfish, medium bluefish and several drum were taken during the morning. Surf fishermen caught some sea mullet and puppy drum in the Frisco area Monday night but fishing was slow Tuesday due to strong tides.

No boats went offshore Tuesday from either Oregon Inlet or Hatteras due to gusty northwest winds.

The water temperature at the Army Corps of Engineers pier in Duck was 46 degrees on Tuesday. The water temperature at the Frisco Pier was 57 degrees. by CNB