THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT 
              Copyright (c) 1996, Landmark Communications, Inc.

DATE: Thursday, July 25, 1996               TAG: 9607250514
SECTION: LOCAL                   PAGE: B1   EDITION: NORTH CAROLINA 
COLUMN: FISHING ON THE OUTER BANKS 
SOURCE: Damon Tatem
                                            LENGTH:   48 lines

SPOTS AND CROAKERS WERE PLENTIFUL ON OUTER BANKS PIER

Pier fishing was good at several locations along the Northern beaches Wednesday.

On Outer Banks Pier, plenty of spots and croakers were landed throughout the day. Lots of cobia were seen and two were decked weighing 57 and 22 pounds.

Jennette's Pier also reported plenty of spot and other small bottom fish. A king mackerel weighing 22 pounds was landed by Larry Farley of Manteo and a 23 pound cobia was taken by Mike Bratten of West Virginia.

Anglers on Nags Head Pier caught a few Spanish mackerel, spot, sea mullet, small blues and croakers off and on during the day. A 27 pound Jock was released. A 39 pound king mackerel, spot, croaker, sea mullet, and a few trigger fish were landed from Avalon Pier.

Kitty Hawk Pier reported slow fishing during the morning and a few Spanish mackerel landed late in the afternoon.

On Hatteras Island fishermen on Rodanthe Pier caught a few spot, small bluefish and a 16 pound king.

Small bottom fish, a few Spanish mackerel, little bluefish and a few gray trout were taken during the morning on Avon Pier. Action during most of the afternoon was slow.

Frisco Pier reported fairly slow fishing with only a few bottom fish, gray trout and Spanish mackerel landed. Surf fishermen from Corolla to Oregon Inlet caught fair quantities of small bottom fish on bloodworms and fresh shrimp.

Bottom fish, a few bluefish, and some nice flounder were taken in the surf around Oregon Inlet.

Spot, croaker, sea mullett and a few Pompano were hauled from the surf along the beach from Rodanthe to Buxton.

At Cape Point bluefish, Spanish mackerel and flounder were beached. Some pompano were taken along the beach north of Cape Point.

Fishing was slow in the surf from Frisco to Hatteras Inlet.

Inshore trolling around Oregon Inlet was fair with a handful of Spanish mackerel and bluefish taken.

Charters off Oregon Inlet caught up to 12 yellowfin tuna per boat. Some fair catches of dolphin were also reported. A few billfish were released. The best of the action was between the 40530 and the 40560 Loran lines.

Wahoo and dolphin fishing was good off Hatteras. Tuna and marlin action was slow. The water temperatures of the Corps of Engineers Pier in Duck was 74.5 degrees. The water temperature at the Frisco Pier on Hatteras Island was 75 degrees. by CNB