THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1996, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Tuesday, August 13, 1996 TAG: 9608130285
SECTION: LOCAL PAGE: B1 EDITION: NORTH CAROLINA
COLUMN: Fishing on the Outer Banks
SOURCE: Damon Tatem
LENGTH: 83 lines
Excellent billfish action was reported over the weekend northeast of Oregon Inlet.
At least 65 white marlin were released by the Oregon Inlet and Pirates Cove fleets.
The top boat was the Pelican, with seven fish released. Other releases included five white marlin by the First Crack, four white marlin by the Jo Boy and three by the Capt. B.C.
The Phideaux landed a 218-pound big-eye tuna and released a blue marlin. The best action was between the 40950 and the 41080 Loran lines in depths ranging from 35 to 100 fathoms.
Scattered yellowfin tuna were landed around the 41600 line, and a few dolphin also were taken.
More than 50 billfish were released Sunday around the triple zeroes.
The Pelican won the Alice Kelly Memorial Tournament with five releases. The Sea Note was in second place with four releases, followed by the Jaw Breaker and three releases.
Marlin action was centered between the 40870 and the 41700 Loran lines in 100 fathoms. Tuna and dolphin were scarce.
Billfish action was good in the Gulf Stream south of Hatteras Inlet Saturday. A grand slam plus an extra blue marlin were scored by the Citation.
Other releases included a blue marlin and a white marlin by both the Release and the Big Eye, two white marlin by the Good Times, and one blue marlin each by the Tuna Duck, the Gambler and the Hatteras Fever.
Some nice wahoo also were taken by the Hatteras fleet and 6- to 8-pound king mackerel were taken by anglers trolling a short distance offshore.
Inshore trolling around Oregon Inlet was fair, with some Spanish mackerel taken a short distance east of the lighthouse and lots of small billfish landed near the bridge. Several cobia were reported landed by boaters fishing near the boiler.
Pier fishing was fair to good during the weekend, depending on location. A 51-pound cobia and a 39-pound king mackerel were landed on Kitty Hawk Pier by anglers using live menhaden Saturday. A few small bottom fish also were taken. Some Spanish mackerel and croaker were landed Sunday.
Avalon Pier reported good spot fishing Saturday morning. A 40-pound king mackerel was landed during the afternoon by Jennifer Lewis of York County. Fishing was slow Sunday, with only a handful of small bottom fish and pompano taken.
Two cobia weighing 24 and 28 pounds were landed from Nags Head Pier Saturday. Small spot and croaker were caught in the morning.
Small bottom fish were decked Sunday afternoon and a few Spanish mackerel were landed from the end of the pier just before dark.
Anglers on Jennette's Pier reported slow fishing Saturday. Quite a few pompano, sea mullet and spot were taken Sunday morning. Some small bottom fish were landed in the afternoon.
A few spot, gray trout, flounder and small blues were caught from Outer Banks Pier Saturday. Small bottom fish and a few pompano were landed off and on Sunday. Some Spanish mackerel and a few bluefish were taken just before dark.
On Hatteras Island, Rodanthe Pier reported little action Saturday and Sunday.
Fishing also was slow over the weekend on Avon Pier.
Anglers on Frisco Pier saw a few big fish Saturday, but were unable to hook them. A few Spanish mackerel, sea mullet and small pompano were taken Sunday during the late afternoon.
Pier fishing was generally slow along the Dare Coast most of Monday.
Surf fishing along the northern beaches was fair, with small spot, croaker and sea mullet taken.
Surf fishermen around Oregon Inlet landed small bottom fish and lots of flounder, but a large percentage were throwbacks. Boaters in the area landed good numbers of keeper flounder in Davis Slough and Crab Slough.
Spot and croaker fishing was good in the surf from Rodanthe to Buxton Sunday. Some tailor blues also were taken late in the day.
Some Spanish mackerel and bluefish were landed early Saturday morning at Cape Point. A few bottom fish were beached during the day. Fishing was slow Sunday.
Good numbers of sea mullet and some small pompano were landed along the Frisco beach Saturday. Lots of small flounder were taken around Hatteras Inlet. A few bottom fish, small flounder and bluefish were landed Sunday by surf fishermen along the beach from Frisco to False Point.
Small bottom fish should be available in deeper sloughs along the Outer Banks beaches early mornings and late afternoons this week.
The water temperature was 77 degrees Monday at the Army Corps of Engineers Pier in Duck, and 79 degrees at Frisco Pier on Hatteras Island. by CNB