THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1996, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Tuesday, June 25, 1996 TAG: 9606250233
SECTION: LOCAL PAGE: B1 EDITION: NORTH CAROLINA
COLUMN: FISHING ON THE OUTER BANKS
SOURCE: Damon Tatem
LENGTH: 102 lines
Warm, clear water moved inshore along the Dare Coast during the weekend, bringing with it some big fish.
The hot spot was Rodanthe Pier, where eight king mackerel, weighing as much as 43 1/2 pounds each, and two cobia, weighing 51 and 64 pounds, were decked late Friday. Water conditions were good again Saturday, with five king mackerel, averaging 20 pounds, and two nice cobia taken. Conditions deteriorated by Sunday, when all the best anglers could do was catch some small bluefish.
A 71-pound tarpon was landed Saturday on Frisco Pier. The big fish was caught by Hicky Jackson of Frisco on a live threadfin herring.
A 30-pound king mackerel was caught by Lester Hamrick of Frisco and a 12-pound bluefish also was reported. In addition to the big fish, a few bluefish, Spanish mackerel and spot were taken.
A 23-pound king mackerel was caught Sunday, and several cobia and a tarpon were lost.
Anglers on Avon Pier caught some small bluefish and a few Spanish mackerel Saturday. A 52-pound cobia was landed by Wayne Carrier of Wade, N.C.
A few small bluefish, small bottom fish and a 40-pound cobia were caught Sunday.
Along the northern beaches, Kitty Hawk Pier reported a few Spanish mackerel, small bluefish and a 27-pound king mackerel landed Saturday. Three king mackerel, the largest weighing 27 pounds, and one cobia were taken Sunday.
A good run of bluefish developed Saturday morning on Avalon Pier. Most of the 12- to 18-inch fish were taken on jiggers. Cobia weighing 40 and 42 pounds, and king mackerel weighing 23 1/2 and 27 pounds were decked in the afternoon.
A few bluefish were landed Sunday, along with several jacks. A king mackerel was lost.
Anglers on Nags Head Pier caught some tailor bluefish and a few Spanish mackerel Saturday morning. Two sizable jacks were released. Some bottom fish and a king mackerel were landed in the afternoon.
Fishing was slow Sunday morning, but improved later in the day. Some spot and a 28 1/2-pound king mackerel were landed during the afternoon. Several big fish were lost.
Triggerfish, bluefish and Spanish mackerel were taken by fishermen on Jennette's Pier Saturday. A 32-pound king mackerelwas taken by Dillon Jones of Nags Head.
Sunday's catches included a few spot and skates.
Cobia weighing 17 and 20 pounds were landed Saturday on Outer Banks Pier. Several 30-pound class jacks were released.
Four jacks were released by pier anglers Sunday. Spot averaging about 4-per-pound were taken throughout the weekend.
Fair numbers of small bluefish, some small spot and a few sea mullet were landed by surfcasters from Corolla to Oregon Inlet throughout the weekend.
Good catches of bottom fish and a few gray trout were landed from the catwalk on the south end of the Bonner Bridge, and also from the revetment on the inlet's south side. Quite a few flounder also were taken in the area, but most were too small to keep.
Plenty of spot, some croaker and sea mullet were landed along the beach from Rodanthe to Buxton during the weekend.
A few bluefish, Spanish mackerel and spot were beached at Cape Point Saturday and Sunday.
A good run of Spanish mackerel hit the Hatteras Inlet beach just before dark Friday.
Lots of small bluefish, a few bottom fish and some keeper flounder were taken during the weekend by surf fishermen along the beach from the Frisco motels to Hatteras Inlet.
Inshore trolling was good throughout the weekend around Oregon Inlet. Spanish mackerel were plentiful south of the inlet Saturday morning, and some nice-sized bluefish were on the inlet bar Sunday.
Good catches of big cobia were taken by boaters off Rodanthe Saturday. Most of the cobia and king mackerel action moved farther south Sunday.
Headboats in the Oregon Inlet area caught plenty of bluefish and some flounder Saturday.
Dolphin fishing was good off Oregon Inlet Saturday. Tuna fishing was slow.
Billfish releases included two blue marlin and a white marlin by the Hog Wild, a blue marlin and a white marlin by the Country Girl, and a blue marlin by the Fight'N'Lady and the Bounty Hunter.
Also released were white marlin by the Sea Toy, the Temptress, the CJ-IV and the Gannet, and sailfish by the Dream Girl and the Suspense.
Fair numbers of dolphin and a few tuna were taken by the Oregon Inlet fleet Sunday.
A grand slam was released by the Temptation, two white marlin by the Marlin Fever, and blue marlin by the Hooker, the Wildfire, the Capt. BC, the Gannet and the Obsession.
The best billfishing was between the 40300 and 40500 Loran lines in 70 to 200 fathoms of water.
Billfishing was good off Hatteras Saturday. Six white marlin were released by the Top Billing.
Other releases included four white marlin by the Release, a blue marlin and two white marlin by the Eagle, blue marlin by the Tuna Duck, the Hatteras Fever and the Harpers Folly, and a white marlin by the Sea Creature.
Some gaffer dolphin and a few wahoo also were taken.
Charters off Hatteras landed good catches of dolphin Sunday. Releases included a grand slam by the Release, two blue marlin by the Chaser, two sailfish by the Lucky Chip, and sailfish by the Fin Fantasy and the Hatteras Blue.
Cobia should provide good pier action along the Dare Coast this week, provided inshore water remains fairly warm and clear.
The water temperature was 75.5 degrees Monday at the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Pier in Duck, and 79 degrees at Frisco Pier on Hatteras Island. by CNB