THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1996, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Friday, July 26, 1996 TAG: 9607260447
SECTION: LOCAL PAGE: B1 EDITION: NORTH CAROLINA
COLUMN: FISHING ON THE OUTER BANKS
SOURCE: Damon Tatem
LENGTH: 50 lines
Pier fishing along the northern beaches was a little slow Thursday but some big fish did provide some excitement.
On Kitty Hawk Pier a few spanish mackerel and bluefish were taken. Several cobia were seen but none were hooked.
Avalon Pier reported spot and croakers landed and a few stripers released.
A few spot, croakers, pigfish and small flounders were caught by anglers on Nags Head Pier. A 43-pound cobia was landed during the morning.
Fishermen on Jennette's Pier caught scattered spots and croakers. Cobia weighing 18 and 28 pounds were decked.
Outer Banks Pier reported lots of croakers, a few spot and some small bluefish taken during the morning. Croakers were landed during the afternoon.
South of Oregon Inlet anglers on Rodanthe Pier caught bluefish, Spanish mackerel and a few spot. A cobia weighing 17 1/2 pounds and 2 18-pound king mackerel were landed.
Fishing was slow on Avon Pier during the morning but improved during the afternoon with plenty of spot, croakers and small gray trout taken.
Frisco Pier reported Spanish mackerel landed just before dark Wednesday evening. A few bottom fish, small gray trout and pompano were taken.
Surf fishing was slow along the northern beaches Thursday. Around Oregon Inlet some tailor blues, smallgray trout, bottom fish and a few keeper flounder were taken. Surf fishermen from Rodanthe to Buxton reported a few spot, croakers and small blues beached.
At Cape Point lots of small bluefish were taken. A few pompano, Spanish mackerel and sea mullet were also landed.
Small sea mullet, bluefish and plenty of small flounders were taken by fishermen along the beach from Frisco to Hatteras Inlet. Keeper flounder were very scarce.
Inshore trolling was a little slow around Oregon Inlet Thursday. Headboats fishing around the Inlet reported good catches of keeper flounder. Over in the Manns Harbor, sheepshead, croakers and striped bass were plentiful near the bridge. The best action has been late in the afternoon just before dark and during the night.
Blue water action off Oregon Inlet was slow yesterday. A few dolphin and tuna were taken. About eight billfish were released.
Charters off Hatteras caught fair numbers of dolphin, tuna and wahoo. Quite a few billfish were released.
Cobia and king mackerel action should be good on ocean piers this weekend provided winds are light and the water remains clear.
Water temperature at the Corps of Engineers Pier in Duck was 75 degrees Thursday. The water temperature at Frisco Pier was 79 degrees. by CNB