THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1996, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Saturday, August 17, 1996 TAG: 9608170234
SECTION: LOCAL PAGE: B1 EDITION: NORTH CAROLINA
COLUMN: Fishing on the Outer Banks
TYPE: Column
SOURCE: Damon Tatem
LENGTH: 65 lines
Billfish action slowed down off Oregon Inlet Friday. Thirty-nine white marlin and a blue marlin were released during the final day of the 13th annual Pirate's Cove Billfish Tournament.
At the conclusion of the day, the Prime Time was the leader, followed by the Sea Toy in second place.
Most of the action was between the 40900 and the 41000 Loran lines in 50 to 100 fathoms of water.
Releases included four white marlin by the Capt. B.C. and three by the Phideaux. A few scattered tuna and dolphin also were taken in the area. Fishing was slow around the point.
Billfishing improved dramatically off Hatteras. Fish were scattered over a wide area well south of Hatteras Inlet.
A sailfish and a white marlin were released by the Wahoo. Blue marlin were released by the Hatteras Blue, the Citation and Walt Spruill's Hatteras Fever.
Sailfish were released by the Release, the Big Eye, the Fin Quest and the Bullfrog. A few bailer dolphin, scattered wahoo and an occasional tuna also were taken.
Inshore trolling around Oregon Inlet was good Friday. Plenty of Spanish mackerel and scattered tailor bluefish were taken.
Headboats in the ocean off Oregon Inlet caught lots of croaker. Sound fishing was somewhat slower, with a few croaker, spot and small flounder landed.
Pier fishing along the northern beaches was fair.
Kitty Hawk Pier reported a few Spanish mackerel landed just before dark Thursday, and several taken Friday morning.
Spanish mackerel, bluefish and a few mullet were landed during the morning on Avalon Pier. A 50-pound cobia also was decked. Fishing during the afternoon was slow.
Anglers on Nags Head Pier caught a few blues, Spanish mackerel, spot, pompano and spadefish sporadically throughout the day.
Fishing was slow on Jennette's Pier, with only a handful of Spanish mackerel landed.
Action also was slow on Outer Banks Pier, where fishermen caught a few pompano, Spanish mackerel and bluefish.
South of Oregon Inlet, anglers on Rodanthe Pier landed a few Spanish mackerel and a 10-pound cobia.
A few Spanish mackerel were taken on Avon Pier at first light. A few small bottom fish and pompano were landed during the day.
A big king mackerel was landed from Frisco Pier by Hyun Chang of Newport News, Va., during the morning. Pompano fishing was good in the late afternoon.
Surf fishing was fairly slow Friday throughout Dare County.
A few small bottom fish were landed by surfcasters from Corolla to Oregon Inlet.
A few flounder, croaker and small bluefish were beached around Oregon Inlet. Some nice sheepshead and black drum were hauled in from around the supports of the Bonner Bridge off and on during the day.
Mullet, croaker and a few spot were caught in the surf from Rodanthe to Buxton.
Quite a few Spanish mackerel and bluefish were taken late Thursday afternoon at Cape Point. Some blues and a few Spanish mackerel were beached Friday morning, and a few flounder and pompano were landed during the day.
Anglers fishing along the beach from Frisco to Hatteras Inlet caught a few pompano. Some Spanish mackerel were landed around Hatteras Inlet early in the morning. by CNB