THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1996, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Saturday, June 8, 1996 TAG: 9606080505
SECTION: LOCAL PAGE: B1 EDITION: NORTH CAROLINA
COLUMN: Fishing on the Outer Banks
SOURCE: Damon atem
LENGTH: 60 lines
Pier fishing improved at some locations along the northern beaches Friday.
Fishing was generally slow on Kitty Hawk Pier throughout the day. One small king mackerel was landed during the afternoon.
Avalon Pier reported scattered gray trout, bluefish and small bottom fish taken.
A few bottom fish, gray trout and speckled trout were caught off and on during the day by fishermen on Nags Head Pier.
Jennette's Pier anglers landed only a few small bottom fish.
Trout fishing was good on Outer Banks Pier during the morning, with both gray and speckled trout landed. Small bottom fish and few trout were decked in the afternoon.
On Hatteras Island, Rodanthe Pier reported spot, bluefish and small flounder taken. A 50-pound black tip shark was caught on live bait.
Fishing was slow on Avon Pier, with only a handful of mullet, spot and small bluefish taken.
A 35-pound cobia and a 6-pound Spanish mackerel were landed on Frisco Pier. A few keeper flounder, scattered bluefish and spot also were caught.
Surf fishing from Corolla to Oregon Inlet was fair. Some scattered small bottom fish were taken on bloodworms on the incoming tide.
A few trout, bottom fish and an 11 3/4-pound bluefish were landed by fishermen on the south side of Oregon Inlet.
Spot, sea mullet, small croaker and an occasional gray trout were beached by surf fishermen from Rodanthe to Buxton. Some small bluefish, Spanish mackerel, bottom fish and flounder were landed at Cape Point during the morning. Afternoon fishing was slow. A few puppy drum, small bluefish and flounder were taken along the beach from Ramp 55 to False Point.
Headboats and half-day charters around Oregon Inlet had a good day catching plenty of gray trout, pigfish and sand perch on morning trips. Action was slow in the afternoon because of the falling tide.
Blue water action off Oregon Inlet was good Friday. Charters caught yellowfin tuna weighing between 25 and 60 pounds at ``the point.'' Most of the fish were taken on surface plugs. Dolphin fishing improved, with some gaffers taken.
Two white marlin were released by the Polyanna, a white marlin and a blue marlin by the Gravy, Hog Wild and the Outer Limits, and two blue marlin and a white marlin by the Obsession.
Two blue marlin were released by the Phideaux, two white marlin by the Bounty Hunter, and white marlin by the Tar Heel, the Candlewick Lady and the Hooker. The best action was around the 280 Rocks.
The headboat, Miss Hatteras, operating out of Odens Dock, reported an excellent catch of snappers Friday.
Billfishing was fairly good off Hatteras. Several billfish were released by the Hatteras fleet, including two white marlin by the Harpers Folly, a white marlin and a blue marlin by the Nancy K., a blue marlin by the Big Eye, and a white marlin aboard Walt Spruill's Hatteras Fever.
Dolphin fishing was good in the area, and some big yellowfin tuna were taken including a 96-pounder and an 84-pounder by the Nancy K. Most of the action was around the 40200 Loran line well north of Thursday's location.
The water temperature was 69.5 degrees Friday at the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Pier in Duck, and 73 degrees at Frisco Pier on Hatteras Island. by CNB