THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1996, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Sunday, July 7, 1996 TAG: 9607040283
SECTION: CAROLINA COAST PAGE: 44 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: Damon Tatem
LENGTH: 110 lines
BLUEWATER ACTION off Oregon Inlet and Hatteras has been excellent recently.
Dolphin fishing has been good consistently. Scattered tuna and a few wahoo also have been landed.
Billfishing was great June 27, with charters from Pirates Cove and Oregon Inlet Fishing Center releasing about 50 fish.
White marlin were released by the Prime Time, the Rebait, the Wildfire and the Obsession. Blue marlin were released by the Hooker, the Sea Toy and Hog Wild. Sailfish were released by Marlin Fever and the Bounty Hunter.
A blue marlin and a white marlin were released by the Flying Fisherman, two white marlin were released by both the Suspense and the Pelican, two blue marlin were released by the Sea Breeze and two sailfish by the Pollyanna.
The best action was around the 40200 Loran line. More than 20 billfish were released outside the 280 rocks the following day.
Billfish action continued June 29, with three white marlin landed by both the Suspense and the Hooker, two sailfish and a white marlin by the Right Hook, and a blue marlin and a white marlin by the Country Girl.
Twenty billfish were released June 30. Action slowed July 1, with only a few scattered billfish reported.
Billfishing off Hatteras was super June 27.
Three sailfish were released by the Tuna Duck and the Top Cat, two white marlin by the Hatteras Fever II, white marlin by the Hatteras Fever and the Top Billing, a blue marlin by the Chaser and sailfish by the Wahoo, the Albacore II, the Lucky Chip and the Capt. B.
Billfishing continued steady the next day. Releases included two white marlin, a blue marlin and a sailfish by the Top Billing, three white marlin and a sailfish by the Lucky Chip and three sailfish by the Nancy K. Action tapered off during the next few days.
Inshore trolling around Oregon and Hatteras Inlets has been good, with bluefish and Spanish mackerel plentiful. Headboats around Oregon Inlet have reported fairly good catches of small bottom fish and a few blues.
Onshore winds have brought good fishing to ocean piers along the Outer Banks recently.
Anglers on Kitty Hawk Pier caught Spanish mackerel and bluefish during the mornings of June 27 and 28. Murky water in the area the next several days resulted in spot, croaker and sea mullet action. Big fish have been scarce.
Avalon Pier reported good runs of bluefish and Spanish mackerel most of the day June 27. Bluefish were plentiful again the morning of June 29. Most of the 12- to 14-inch fish were taken near the surf line on jiggers.
Fishing was good most of the day July 1, with plenty of croaker, spot, scattered sea mullet, tailor bluefish and Spanish mackerel taken.
Plenty of keeper bluefish were landed on jiggers and bucktail rigs just before dark June 27 on Nags Head Pier. Bluefish hit the pier in force again early the morning of June 29.
Spot fishing was good most of the morning June 30. Plenty of bottom fish, a few gray trout, Spanish mackerel and lots of tailor blues were landed the next day.
Spanish mackerel, bluefish, spot and croaker were landed all day June 27 on Jennette's Pier. A 27-pound jack was released and a few Spanish mackerel were landed June 29. Fair numbers of bottom fish were taken later in the day.
Fishermen on the Outer Banks Pier landed plenty of croaker June 28. Sea mullet and spadefish were taken on fresh shrimp late in the day June 29. Small bottom fish and a 40-pound black tip shark were decked July 1.
South of Oregon Inlet, Rodanthe Pier reported good catches of bluefish, spot, sea mullet, small gray trout and flounder all day June 27.
A few nice-size pompano were landed June 28. Fair numbers of small bottom fish were taken during the next several days.
Avon Pier fishermen caught scattered small bottom fish June 26 through July 2. Clear water June 28 brought cobia inshore weighing 46, 43 and 36 pounds.
Frisco Pier also reported some big-fish action. Five king mackerel and a tarpon were landed June 27. Three king mackerel, weighing between 12 and 22 pounds, were taken June 28. Four kings and a 4-pound Spanish mackerel were landed the next day.
Six king mackerel, including a 50-pounder caught by Darrell Willis of Frisco, were decked June 30. The big king mackerel was taken on a live threadfin herring.
Plenty of bluefish were taken from the pier July 1, along with a 2.25-pound pompano and king mackerel weighing 28 and 32 pounds.
Surf fishing has been fairly good along the beach from Corolla to Oregon Inlet.
Spot, croaker, small blues, a few flounder and some nice sea mullet have been landed on the incoming tide. Most of the bottom fish have been taken on bloodworms and fresh shrimp. And the blues have been taken on fresh mullet.
Good action has been reported from both the north and south sides of Oregon Inlet. Good catches of nice croaker and tailor blues were taken from the north side near the Bonner bridge June 30. Bottom fishing has been consistently good off the catwalk on the south end of the bridge.
Spot, sea mullet, croaker and a few flounder have been dragged from the surf from Rodanthe to Buxton.
Puppy drum measuring as much as 40 inches have been taken nightly at Cape Point. Scattered Spanish mackerel, sea mullet and flounder have been landed during the day.
The best flounder fishing has been along the south beach. Some pompano also have been beached.
Spanish mackerel fishing was excellent in the surf at Hatteras Inlet early in the morning and just before dark June 29 and 30.
Bluefish, bottom fish and a few keeper flounder have been landed by surfcasters from Frisco to Hatteras Inlet. MEMO: Damon Tatem covers Outer Banks fishing for The Carolina Coast.
Send comments and questions to him at P.O. Box 10, Nags Head, N.C.
27959.@ ILLUSTRATION: Staff photo by DREW C. WILSON
Maybe the best place to fish is another boat
Anglers try their luck last week near the exposed boiler of the
Federal transport Oriental, sunk in 1862 off Pea Island. Other good
fishing spots include trolling at Oregon and Hatteras Inlets, with
bluefish and Spanish mackerel plentiful. Headboats around Oregon
Inlet have reported fairly good catches of small bottom fish and a
few blues. by CNB