THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1996, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Saturday, July 6, 1996 TAG: 9607060368
SECTION: LOCAL PAGE: B4A EDITION: NORTH CAROLINA
COLUMN: FISHING ON THE OUTER BANKS
SOURCE: DAMON TATEM
LENGTH: 54 lines
Billfishing improved in the Gulf Stream off Hatteras and Oregon Inlet Friday.
Oregon Inlet Fishing Center and Pirates Cove charters released more than 50 marlin while trolling a little south of the ``Point.'' Releases included five white marlin by the Fintastic, four white marlin by the Hooter and two white marlin and a blue marlin by the Miss Boo. Good catches of dolphin also were reported. Tuna fishing was slow.
Blue water anglers off Hatteras reported good numbers of billfish released including four sailfish by the Meredith, a white marlin and a sailfish by the Marlin Mania, two white marlin by the Chopin, white marlin on the Brothers Pride, Tuna Duck, Harpoon Folly and Major Trouble. Dolphin fishing was excellent and a few wahoo and yellowfin tuna were landed.
Inshore trolling around Oregon Inlet and along the beach outside of the inlet was slow. Headboat fishing in the sound caught small bottom fish and a few gray trout. Some pigfish, triggerfish and a few sea bass were landed by the Headboat Miss Oregon Inlet in the ocean.
Pier fishing was slow along the Northern Beaches Friday.
On Kitty Hawk Pier only a few small flounder were taken.
Anglers on Avalon landed a few Spanish mackerel, small flounder and a little gray trout during the morning. Some small spot and sand perch were taken during the afternoon.
Nags Head Pier reported several small bottom fish and a few trigger fish landed.
On Jennette's Pier fishing was very slow all day.
A few Spanish mackerel were caught by fishermen on Outer Banks Pier.
On Hatteras Island a few spot, small flounder, an 18-pound king mackerel and 30-pound cobia were landed.
Avon Pier reported a few small flounder taken.
Six king mackerel weighing from 6 to 24 pounds were decked on Frisco Pier. Five kings were broken off.
A few keeper flounder and some sheepshead were also taken by pier anglers.
Some sea mullet, small croaker and spot were landed by surfcasters from Corolla to Oregon Inlet. Good catches of bottom fish were reported from the south side of Oregon Inlet.
Scattered small bottom fish were landed in the surf from Rodanthe to Buxton.
At Cape Point a 45-pound cobia was landed on a flounder rig baited with squid Friday morning. Some Spanish mackerel were also beached on the south side of the Point.
Along the south beach spot and sea mullet were taken.
Small bluefish and flounder were landed by surfcasters from Frisco to Hatteras Inlet.
The water temperature was 73.5 degrees Friday at the Army Corps of Engineers Pier in Duck and 76 degrees at Avon Pier on Hatteras Island. by CNB