THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1996, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Tuesday, May 14, 1996 TAG: 9605140394
SECTION: LOCAL PAGE: B1 EDITION: NORTH CAROLINA
COLUMN: Fishing on the Outer Banks
SOURCE: Damon Tatem
LENGTH: Medium: 76 lines
Inshore fishing along the Dare Coast was fairly good overall during the past weekend.
Although Kitty Hawk Pier anglers caught few fish Saturday, Sunday's action made up for it. After a morning wind shift, fishermen caught plenty of spot, croaker, sea mullet, gray trout and bluefish. Good action continued throughout the afternoon.
A few bluefish were taken early Saturday morning on Avalon Pier, but afternoon fishing was slow. Small gray trout, spot, croaker and bluefish were landed Sunday. The best action was in the afternoon.
A few tailor bluefish were caught on white bucktail rigs just after sunrise on Nags Head Pier Saturday. A few small gray trout were taken on Sunday morning. Later in the day lots of croaker, some spot and scattered sea mullet were decked.
Outer Banks Pier reported slow fishing Saturday, with a few small bottom fish, small bluefish and small gray trout taken. Lots of spot were taken from the pier late Sunday morning. Plenty of small bluefish, some sea mullet, croaker, pigfish and small gray trout were landed during the afternoon.
South of Oregon Inlet, Rodanthe Pier fishermen caught some sea mullet and gray trout Saturday. Small bottom fish, a couple of large flounder, small bluefish and several 1 1/2-pound Spanish mackerel were caught after a shift in the wind early Sunday afternoon.
A few bottom fish were landed Saturday on Avon Pier. Dirty water kept action to a minimum. Fishing was fair Sunday, with skates, croaker, spot, mullet and small gray trout taken.
Strong southwest winds Saturday kept action to a minimum on Frisco Pier. Fishing was slow again the following day, with a few small bottom fish and bluefish landed.
Piers along the northern beaches reported good runs of small gray trout and bluefish Monday morning. Pier anglers on Hatteras Island didn't fair as well, catching only a few bluefish, gray trout and bottom fish.
Surf fishermen along the beach from Corolla to Oregon Inlet caught small bottom fish and a few tailor blues on the incoming tide during the weekend.
Some speckled and gray trout were landed by anglers on the south side of Oregon Inlet early Saturday morning. Small gray trout and several Spanish mackerel were taken Sunday from the catwalk on the south end of the Bonner Bridge.
Some sea mullet and a few puppy drum were landed by surf fishermen from Rodanthe to Buxton Saturday and Sunday.
Big drum and puppy drum were caught sporadically at Cape Point throughout the weekend. Sea mullet and some nice flounder were taken by anglers fishing along the south beach.
Drum fishing also was good at False Point. Quite a few were beached on the high tide late Friday night. Saturday night's action was slow. A few bottom fish and small bluefish were taken along the beach from Ramp 55 to Hatteras Inlet during the weekend.
Fishing was good in Croatan Sound Saturday. Plenty of croaker and some gray trout were taken on shrimp. Two- to 3-pound striped bass were schooling near the bridge Sunday after the wind shift. Anglers caught and released all they wanted.
Offshore action off Oregon Inlet was a little slow Saturday. Charters landed a few tuna of mixed sizes. An 86-pound yellowfin was landed by the Smoker and a 133-pound mako by the Right Hook. Some limits of dolphin were reported. The best action was between the 40520 Loran line and ``the point,'' southeast of Oregon Inlet.
Only a couple of charters went to the Gulf Stream Sunday. A few tuna and dolphin were taken. A sailfish was released by the Smoker.
Some tuna, a few dolphin and scattered wahoo were landed by Hatteras charters Saturday. White marlin were released by the Marlin Mania, the Gambler, and the Release. A blue marlin was released by the Outlaw.
The water temperature was 56 degrees Monday at the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Pier in Duck, and 66 degrees at Frisco Pier on Hatteras Island. by CNB