THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1996, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Tuesday, July 9, 1996 TAG: 9607090229
SECTION: LOCAL PAGE: B1 EDITION: NORTH CAROLINA
COLUMN: FISHING ON THE OUTER BANKS
SOURCE: DAMON TATEM
LENGTH: 87 lines
Billfish action was spectacular east of Oregon Inlet Saturday.
Charters out of Oregon Inlet Fishing Center and Pirates Cove Marina released more than 90 billfish, primarily white marlin. Most of the action was between the 40715 and 40750 Loran lines in 45 fathoms.
Releases included 11 white marlin by both the Sea Witch and the Obsession, 10 white marlin by the Temptress, nine white marlin by the Sea Toy and seven white marlin by the C-Note.
Also released were six white marlin and a blue marlin by the Outer Limits, five white marlin by the Fast Lane, and two blue marlin and a white marlin by the Miss Boo.
Tuna fishing improved, with good catches of yellowfin taken around the 40400 Loran line. Scattered dolphin also were landed.
White marlin fishing Sunday was still outstanding, although not quite as fantastic as Saturday. More than 60 billfish were released, with the action centered near the 40750 Loran line in fairly shallow water.
Top releases included seven white marlin and a blue marlin by the Sea Breeze, six white marlin by the Osprey, five white marlin by the Sea Toy, and four white marlin each by the Gravy and the Pelican.
Forty- to 60-pound yellowfin tuna and some dolphin were landed around the 40390 to 40400 Loran lines.
Hatteras charters reported good dolphin fishing Saturday. A fair number of yellowfin tuna and wahoo also were taken.
Sailfish were released by the Gambler, the Tom Cat, the Brothers Pride, the Tuna Duck and the Creature. A white marlin was released by the Citation.
Tuna fishing was good Sunday, with some charters taking their limits of yellowfin, some weighing as much as 65 pounds. The best tuna action was east of the Diamond Shoals Light Tower.
Dolphin fishing also was good, with several limits reported. Billfishing was slow.Inshore trolling for Spanish mackerel in the Oregon Inlet area was fairly good throughout the weekend.
Some cobia were caught by live-bait fishermen fishing from boats fairly close to the beach. Small king mackerel also were taken.
Intermediate charters caught jacks on live bait at the offshore towers. Headboats around Oregon Inlet caught croaker and pigfish Saturday.
Pier fishing was generally slow during the weekend, although some big fish were landed.
A few bluefish were taken on bucktails from the end of Kitty Hawk Pier Saturday morning. Several cobia were lost during the day. A few Spanish mackerel, bluefish, small flounder and one small cobia were taken Sunday.
Avalon Pier reported fair numbers of bluefish and Spanish mackerel taken from the end of the pier early Saturday. A 17-pound king mackerel also was landed. A few speckled trout and bluefish were caught on jiggers Sunday.
A few Spanish mackerel were landed Saturday on Nags Head Pier. Ray Herbin of Nags Head caught a 3-pound, 7-ounce flounder, and a 30-pound jack was released by Bill Wiley of Richmond.
Fishing improved Sunday. Cobia weighing 25 and 27 pounds were landed, along with five king mackerel, the largest weighing 21 pounds.
Jennette's Pier reported a few bottom fish landed throughout the weekend.
King mackerel weighing 22 and 24 pounds, a 26-pound cobia and a few Spanish mackerel were caught by anglers the on Outer Banks Pier Saturday. A 25-pound jack was released Sunday, and a 36-pound cobia was decked. A few small bottom fish also were taken.
South of Oregon Inlet, Rodanthe Pier reported a few small bottom fish and a 27 1/2-pound king mackerel landed Saturday. A 26-pound king mackerel and a few spot were caught Sunday.
Avon Pier reported slow fishing Saturday and Sunday.
Five king mackerel, the largest weighing 23 pounds, were taken from Frisco Pier Saturday. Justin Curico of Frisco landed a 45-pound cobia.
Six more king mackerel, weighing between 10 and 24 pounds, were decked Sunday. A small cobia was landed, and several tarpon were lost.
Surf fishermen along the northern beaches caught sea mullet, croaker and flounder on the incoming tide during the weekend.
Bottom fish were taken by anglers fishing from both sides of Oregon Inlet. Some keeper trout were landed at night from the catwalk on the south end of the Bonner Bridge by anglers using illumination.
A few puppy drum were beached Saturday morning at Cape Point. Small bluefish, bottom fish and pompano were taken during the day. Fishing at Cape Point was slow Sunday.
Some bluefish and Spanish mackerel were taken by surfcasters in the Hatteras Inlet area Saturday morning. Grass was a problem.
A few nice mullet, small croaker and flounder were landed along the beach from Frisco to False Point.
Sunday's fishing was slow.
Cobia and king mackerel action should continue on local ocean piers as long as the wind stays moderate and the water stays clear.
The water temperature was 59 degrees Monday at the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Pier in Duck and 76 degrees at Frisco Pier on Hatteras Island. by CNB