THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1996, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Thursday, October 17, 1996 TAG: 9610170333
SECTION: LOCAL PAGE: B1 EDITION: NORTH CAROLINA
COLUMN: FISHING ON THE OUTER BANKS
SOURCE: Damon Tatem
LENGTH: 42 lines
Weather and water conditions were good Wednesday, but pier fishing along the Dare Coast was unusually slow.
Only a few small bottom fish were taken on Kitty Hawk Pier, and Avalon Pier reported a handful of small bluefish, sea mullet and spot landed.
Anglers on Nags Head Pier caught little during the morning, but sea mullet were taken from the end of the pier in the afternoon.
A few black drum, several speckled trout and some bluefish were landed from Jennette's Pier during the day. A few small flounder, black drum and small bottom fish were caught from Outer Banks Pier.
South of Oregon Inlet, Rodanthe Pier reported some small bluefish. Some nice sea mullet were landed from Avon Pier Tuesday night, but fishing was slow Wednesday.
Small sea mullet, small pompano and albacore were taken on Frisco Pier.
Surf fishing was slow along the northern beaches and around Oregon Inlet, with scattered bottom fish and a few speckled trout landed.
Some nice speckled trout were beached from the surf north of Rodanthe Pier, along with a 32-inch striper. A few blues, trout, sea mullet and puppy drum were landed by surf fishermen from Rodanthe to Buxton.
Some trout were taken at Cape Point in the surf near the lighthouse. Yearling drum were landed from Cape Point early in the morning, and some bottom fish were caught during the day along the south beach.
Scattered speckled trout were landed in the Frisco area near Frisco Pier.
Headboats off Oregon Inlet landed fairly good catches of small bluefish and 12- to 15-inch gray trout Wednesday.
Well offshore, Oregon Inlet charters caught eight to 15 yellowfin tuna of mixed sizes per boat. The best action was east of the inlet.
King mackerel fishing was great off Hatteras. Action was centered south of the Diamond Shoals Light Tower, where plenty of 18- to 20-pound king mackerel were taken on live bait. Some nice wahoo and dolphin also were taken. Lots of tuna were seen, but only a few were landed.
The water temperature was 64 degrees Wednesday at the Army Crops of Engineers Pier in Duck, and 68 degrees at Frisco Pier on Hatteras Island. by CNB