THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1996, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Tuesday, April 9, 1996 TAG: 9604090296
SECTION: LOCAL PAGE: B1 EDITION: NORTH CAROLINA
COLUMN: FISHING ON THE OUTER BANKS
SOURCE: DAMON TATEM
LENGTH: Medium: 54 lines
Bad weather over Easter weekend kept inshore fishing at a minimum along the beach from Corolla to Ocracoke.
Piers along the northern beaches reported that the few anglers fishing caught only skates and a few small croaker.
The one exception was on Nags Head pier, where Bill Bradley of Nags Head landed a 3 1/2-pound speckled trout on a green soft plastic lure Saturday.
On Hatteras Island, Rodanthe pier reported no weekend action. Anglers on Avon pier caught a few toadfish. Frisco pier reported some states and toadfish taken Saturday and Sunday.
Monday's weather improved, bringing quite a few more fishermen to piers along the Outer Banks. Pier fishermen along the northern beaches landed a few skates, while pier fishermen south of Oregon Inlet caught scattered toadfish.
Surf fishing has been slow along the beach from Corolla to Avon. At Cape Point and along the beach south of the point, skates, dogfish, toadfish and a few croakers were landed over the weekend. Several gray trout were taken by surf fishermen in the Frisco area Sunday.
Striped bass fishing was good in the Manns Harbor area Sunday. Anglers trolling beside the bridge found 21- to 24-inch fish plentiful. Yellow bucktails produced the best action, on the fish, which cannot be kept since the spring striper season is over.
Yellowfin tuna fishing was excellent southeast of Oregon Inlet Saturday. Charters caught their limits of 15- to 25-pound tuna easily. Several citation tuna along with a few wahoo and dolphin also appeared in catches. The best of the action was around the 40280 Loran line.
The first blue marlin of the season off Oregon Inlet was released aboard the Hog Wild out of Pirate's Cove Marina Saturday. Additionally, a sailfish was released by the Sizzler based at Oregon Inlet fishing center.
Although wind kept charters in port Sunday, action resumed Monday. Tuna fishing was great, with most boots returning to the dock early with limits of small yellowfin caught around the ``point.''
Offshore fishing was excellent off Hatteras Saturday. A few wahoo and dolphin were also taken. A blue marlin was released by the Tuna Duck, and a spearfish aboard Walt Spruill's Hatteras Fever. Most of the action was between the Diamond Shoals Tower and the 40280 Loran line.
Yellowfin tuna were cooperative again Sunday with some nice catches were reported. A spearfish was released by the Marlin Mania.
Monday's tuna action was good during the morning but slowed as the afternoon progressed.
Surf and pier fishing should improve with the arrival of warmer weather forecast for later in the week. by CNB