THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1996, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Sunday, May 26, 1996 TAG: 9605230215
SECTION: CAROLINA COAST PAGE: 42 EDITION: FINAL
COLUMN: Tight Lines
SOURCE: Damon Tatem
LENGTH: 87 lines
Warm water species have begun to appear in catches along the Dare Coast.
On Hatteras Island, Frisco Pier reported good runs of nice-sized Spanish mackerel May 15, 18 and 20. Most of the mackerel weighed between 1 and 3 pounds and were landed on jiggers. Anglers also caught some bluefish and small bottom fish. A 70-pound cobia was landed from the pier May 18 by David Carangi of Buxton.
Anglers on Avon Pier have been catching a mixture of fish, including gray trout, sea mullet, croaker, bluefish and lots of spot. A 39-pound drum was landed May 18 during the day, and a 287-pound sand tiger shark was taken that night by Wren Nichols of Manassas, Va. An abundance of big bat rays kept anglers busy replacing lost tackle May 20.
Sea mullet, spot, small gray trout and fair numbers of bluefish have been landed on Rodanthe Pier in the past week. A few Spanish mackerel were taken by pier fishermen May 18 and 19.
Piers along the northern beaches have reported a variety of small fish.
Plenty of small gray trout were caught the morning of May 16 on Outer Banks Pier. A few Spanish mackerel were landed from the pier May 18 and 19. Some small bluefish and bottom fish also have been taken from the pier.
Nags Head Pier reported some nice bluefish, gray trout and sea mullet landed May 16 during the morning. Anglers caught their limits of gray trout, along with lots of small blues and sea mullet May 18.
Fair numbers of 16-inch gray trout were taken from Avalon Pier May 16 and 18. The best action was just after first light. A few Spanish mackerel were landed from the pier May 18 and 20.
Spot and sea mullet were plentiful on Kitty Hawk Pier May 17 during the afternoon. Bluefishing was good the morning of May 18, but action waned as the sun rose. Gray trout fishing was good May 19, but action was unusually slow the following day.
Surf fishing along the northern beach area has improved gradually as inshore water temperatures have risen. Anglers have caught small bottom fish, a few tailor blues and small trout. The best action has been on the rising tide.
Around Oregon Inlet, fishermen on the catwalk have caught scattered trout, bluefish and small bottom fish. Some good catches of trout have been taken at night. Boaters drift fishing in Oregon Inlet have caught fair numbers of keeper flounder.
Decent catches of small bluefish, sea mullet, croaker and spot have been reported along the beach from Rodanthe to Buxton early in the morning. Fishing during the middle of the day, however, has been slow recently.
Good catches of various-sized red drum have been taken at Cape Point May 18 through 20 at night. Daytime fishermen have caught a few drum, bluefish, scattered Spanish mackerel and some small bottom fish. A 60-inch cobia was landed from Cape Point May 19 during the night. Good catches of keeper flounder have been reported regularly along the beach south of Cape Point.
Small bluefish, scattered bottom fish and some trout have been beached by surfcasters from Ramp 55 to Hatteras Inlet. Spanish mackerel have been landed at the inlet by surf fishermen and boaters. Some big drum have been taken at night by anglers fishing at False Point.
Inshore trolling around Oregon Inlet has been good, with lots of small bluefish and some fairly good catches of Spanish mackerel reported. The best action has been on the bar at the mouth of the inlet.
Headboats in the Oregon Inlet area have had good luck catching plenty of gray trout, pigfish and sea bass in the ocean outside the inlet.
Striped bass action has been excellent in the Manns Harbor area. Anglers have caught and released all they wanted near the bridge and also down the sound toward Marshes Island Light.
Croaker fishing has been excellent in Croatan Sound on shell-covered bottom off the airport. Most of the fish have been taken on shrimp.
Gulf Stream fishing has been fair to good off Oregon Inlet. Good catches of yellowfin tuna were reported May 18. Most of the tuna weighed between 20 and 80 pounds and were landed between the 480 to 570 Loran lines.
Tuna fishing was scrappy the next several days, with charters averaging five to 10 per boat. Dolphin fishing has been only fair, but should improve as summer arrives and more fish move north.
Blue marlin were released by the Gannett and the Marlin Fever May 18, by the Sea Witch, the Capt. BC, the Carolinean and the Sea Breeze May 19. Two big-eye tuna weighing about 200 pounds also were taken May 19 by the Mad Hatter.
Tuna fishing has been fairly good off Hatteras. Dolphin fishing was good May 19, but slowed May 20.
Blue marlin were released by the Wahoo, the Bullfrog and the Sea Creature May 18. A sailfish also was released that day by the Big Eye. Blue marlin were released the following day by the Bullfront, the Top Billing and the Wahoo, and white marlin were released by the Connector and the Chaser. MEMO: Damon Tatem covers fishing for The Carolina Coast. Send mail to
him at P.O. Box 10, Nags Head, N.C. 27959. by CNB