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

DATE: Wednesday, August 7, 1996             TAG: 9608070497
SECTION: LOCAL                   PAGE: B1   EDITION: NORTH CAROLINA 
COLUMN: Fishing on the Outer Banks
SOURCE: Damon Tatem
                                            LENGTH:   49 lines

BIG FISH PROVIDE ALL THE EXCITEMENT ON A SLOW PIER-FISHING DAY

Pier fishing was generally slow along the northern beaches Tuesday. The only good action was provided by big fish taken at several locations. Kitty Hawk Pier reported a slow day with fish virtually nonexistent.

On Avalon Pier a few Spanish mackerel, bluefish and toadfish were taken. Several cobia were seen and a 42-pounder was landed.

A few small bottom fish and king mackerel weighing 17, 29 3/4 and 37 pounds were caught by anglers on Nags Head Pier.

Fishermen on Jennette's Pier landed a few spot, croakers and a 36-pound king mackerel. One other king was lost.

On Outer Banks Pier a few bluefish, small bottom fish and several flounder were taken during the morning. Black drum and king mackerel weighing 26 and 28 pounds were decked during the afternoon.

On Hatteras Island a 40-pound king mackerel was landed by Phil Tucker of Salvo. Scattered spot and croaker were also taken.

Avon Pier reported plenty of spot landed throughout the morning. Bluefish, black drum, croaker, spot, and small gray trout were caught during the afternoon.

Fishing was slow on Frisco Pier, with only a handful of black drum, Spanish mackerel and small pompano taken.

Surf fishermen along the northern beaches caught fair numbers of small bottom fish and small bluefish.

Croakers, spot, small bluefish and quite a few flounder up to 18 inches were pulled from the surf around Oregon Inlet.

Some nice pompano, small bottom fish, gray trout and flounder were caught in the surf from Rodanthe to Buxton.

At Cape Point Spanish mackerel, bluefish and a few big sea mullet were taken along the north beach.

Scattered blues and Spanish were beached by surfcasters around Hatteras Inlet. Small pompano and a few flounder were landed along the beach from Frisco to False Point.

Inshore trolling around Oregon Inlet was fair with a few Spanish mackerel and blues taken. Plenty of croakers and a few flounders were landed by headboats in the area.

Charters off Oregon Inlet landed fair numbers of yellowfin tuna and a few dolphin Tuesday. Several billfish were released, including a white marlin on the Right Hook.

Off Hatteras, blue-water anglers landed fair catches of dolphin and a few tuna. Billfishing was slow. The water temperature was 74 1/2 degrees at the Army Corp of Engineers Pier in Duck, and 78 at the Frisco Pier. by CNB