THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1996, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Sunday, July 28, 1996 TAG: 9607250186
SECTION: CAROLINA COAST PAGE: 44 EDITION: FINAL
COLUMN: TIGHT LINES
SOURCE: DAMON TATEM
LENGTH: 85 lines
The recent arrival of warmer water along the northern beaches brought with it an improvement in pier and surf fishing.
Kitty Hawk Pier reported good numbers of speckled and gray trout landed early in the morning July 18. Bottom fish were landed during the next few days, and Spanish mackerel fishing was good just before dark July 21.
Anglers on Avalon Pier caught plenty of spot and bluefish July 18. Some blues, gray trout and bottom fish were landed during the next several days.
A 32-pound cobia was decked July 20 on Avalon Pier. Spanish mackerel action was good July 22 in the late afternoon. Most of the mackerel were landed on red and white jiggers.
Plenty of croaker, spot and pigfish were landed from Nags Head Pier July 18 in the morning. A 22-pound cobia was taken during the afternoon.
Some nice spot, tailor bluefish, and two 25-pound cobia were caught July 20 on Nags Head Pier. A few Spanish mackerel, small blues and spot were taken July 21, and two jacks were released.
Fishing was slow on Jennette's Pier July 18. Lots of spot were taken throughout the following day.
A 62-pound cobia was taken on Jennette's Pier July 20. The fish was landed on live bait by Michael Batten of Five Forks, W.Va.
Good numbers of blues and a few Spanish mackerel also were taken. A few small bottom fish were caught during the next few days.
Outer Banks Pier reported scattered bottom fish, a few gray trout and some bluefish July 18 through 22. A few pompano were taken July 20 and 22.
South of Oregon Inlet, fishermen on Rodanthe Pier caught pompano and a 38 1/2-pound cobia July 18. The cobia hit a live eel.
Bottom fishing was fair on the pier for the next few days. A 45-pound king mackerel was landed on a live spot July 21 by William Belton of Gatesville. Some bottom fish, small bluefish and gray trout were taken July 22.
Croaker and a few spot were landed on Avon Pier from July 18 through 20. A few bluefish and bottom fish were taken by pier anglers July 21.
Frisco Pier reported croaker, spot and a few sea mullet landed July 16 and 17. Fishing was slow July 18, but improved the following day with small bottom fish, black drum, bluefish and a few nice gray trout taken. One 13-pound king was decked July 22.
Surf fishing has been productive recently along the beach from Corolla to Oregon Inlet. A mixture of small bottom fish, along with a few pompano, have been taken regularly on bloodworms and squid.
Some nice sea mullet have been landed by anglers using soft sand fleas for bait. A few puppy drum weighing between 7 and 10 pounds were landed from sloughs in the Nags Head area July 20.
Croaker and spot have been plentiful around Oregon Inlet on both the north and south sides, and some keeper flounder have been taken. The percentage of keeper flounder to throwbacks has improved during the past two weeks.
Some gray trout also have been taken in the area, but speckled trout have been scarce.
Fair catches of sheepshead have been landed from around the bridge pilings, and scattered one- to two-pound bluefish have been taken from the inlet's north beach.
Spot and croaker fishing have been good along the beach from Rodanthe to Buxton. Scattered bluefish, a few nice gray trout and a few puppy drum also have been taken.
Most of the action has been on the falling tide. Plenty of pompano, weighing as much as 1 1/2 pounds, were landed on fresh shrimp July 20 and 21.
Puppy drum, small bottom fish, Spanish mackerel and tailor bluefish have been landed just about every day at Cape Point. Some nice pompano have been beached, including a jumbo 2-pound, 4-ounce fish by Thomas Ballard of Buxton. The fish hit fresh shrimp.
Small bottom fish have been fairly abundant in the surf from Frisco to False Point recently. Some Spanish mackerel and small bluefish have been landed late afternoons and early mornings by surfcasters around Hatteras Inlet.
Inshore trolling has been good for bluefish around Oregon Inlet. Scattered Spanish mackerel, a few cobia and some jacks also have been taken.
Headboats around Oregon Inlet have landed croaker, pigfish, small gray trout and keeper flounder regularly.
Tuna fishing has improved in the blue water off Oregon Inlet. Good catches of yellowfin and bluefin tuna were landed well northeast of the inlet near the Cigar July 20 and 21.
Some tuna also have been taken southeast of the inlet, near the point. Dolphin fishing has been fair. Billfishing has been slow, with only a few landed daily. A few wahoo also have been taken.
Charters off Hatteras have landed some good catches of dolphin, a few tuna and a few billfish. Wahoo action was good July 18 and 20, with some boats landing as many as four fish each.
Blue water action should improve all along the Dare Coast with the arrival of the next northeast wind shift. by CNB