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

DATE: Friday, October 11, 1996              TAG: 9610110521
SECTION: LOCAL                   PAGE: B1   EDITION: NORTH CAROLINA 
COLUMN: FISHING ON THE OUTER BANKS 
SOURCE: Damon Tatem
                                            LENGTH:   49 lines

THE AFTERNOON WAS GOOD, BUT THE MORNING WAS BETTER

Pier fishing improved along the northern beaches Thursday.

Kitty Hawk Pier reported good catches of spot and pigfish during most of the morning, but fishing slowed in the afternoon.

A fair number of sand perch, a few spot and small bluefish were taken on Avalon Pier throughout the day.

Good numbers of spot, sand perch, a few gray trout and some speckled trout were caught by fishermen on Nags Head Pier during the morning. A few bluefish were landed from the end of the pier in the afternoon.

Fishermen on Jennette's Pier caught some nice speckled trout, scattered spot, black drum and tailor bluefish early in the day. Some croaker and black drum were taken in the afternoon.

Good-size spot, 2-pound croaker, a few speckled trout, and a few small puppy drum were landed on Outer Banks Pier.

South of Oregon Inlet, Rodanthe Pier reported scattered spot, trout and puppy drum taken.

Fishing was slow on Avon Pier, with only a few small bottom fish landed.

Plenty of spot, a few puppy drum, bluefish and speckled trout were landed during the morning on Frisco Pier. Little action was reported in the afternoon.

Surf fishermen from Corolla to Oregon Inlet landed black drum, scattered croaker, spot, bluefish and a few sea mullet. Some speckled trout were taken from deeper sloughs on Mirrolures.

Bottom fish, a few bluefish and some black drum were beached from both the north and south sides of Oregon Inlet.

Lots of small bluefish and puppy drum were landed along the beach from Oregon Inlet to Buxton. Speckled trout were taken from sloughs north of Rodanthe Pier on cut bait.

Ten to 15 large drum were released Wednesday night at Cape Point. Sea mullet, spot, medium bluefish and puppy drum were taken Thursday.

Inshore trolling around Oregon Inlet was fair Thursday, with bluefish and albacore taken.

Tuna fishing was excellent off Oregon Inlet in 300 to 400 fathoms of water around the 40480 Loran line. Most of the yellowfins were small, but a few bigger fish were taken.

Charters off Hatteras landed some nice tuna, scattered dolphin and a few wahoo. Sailfish were released by the Eagle and the Sea Creature.

Surf fishing should improve along the Outer Banks as inshore waters clear.

The water temperature was 66 degrees Thursday at the Army Corps of Engineers Pier in Duck, and 70 degrees at Frisco Pier on Hatteras Island. by CNB