THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1997, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Sunday, February 9, 1997 TAG: 9702070258
SECTION: CAROLINA COAST PAGE: 19 EDITION: FINAL
COLUMN: TIGHT LINES
SOURCE: Damon Tatem
LENGTH: 54 lines
Blue water action has been excellent along the Dare coast recently.
Spectacular bluefin tuna fishing was reported a few miles off Hatteras Feb. 1 through 3. Most of the bluefin weighed between 100 and 400 pounds and were taken between the 40150 and the 40200 Loran lines.
Some big fish also were seen along the shoals in shallow water. Menhaden has been the most productive bait since these fish appeared in the Hatteras area about four years ago.
With most area anglers concentrating on the jumbo tuna off Hatteras, few trips have been run out of Oregon Inlet.
One charter that left Oregon Inlet Fishing Center Feb. 1 reported limits of 25-pound class yellowfin tuna landed near the 40460 Loran line in 100 fathoms of water.
Some striper action has been reported by anglers trolling around the Oregon Inlet bridge and also on the shoals east of the bridge.
Anglers trolling several miles off the Nags Head beach in 10 fathoms of water have landed scattered fish, but most have been smaller than the legal minimum limit of 28 inches. Stretch 25's have been the most productive striper lures.
With water temperatures along the northern beaches hovering in the low- to mid-40's, action in the surf has been slow. A few stripers have been taken by surfcasters from Corolla to Oregon Inlet on cut bait.
Night time striper fishing has been fairly productive for persistent anglers at Kitty Hawk Pier and on both the north and south sides of Oregon Inlet.
In the Hatteras area, where inshore water temperatures have been a few degrees warmer than along the northern beaches, a mixture of fish has been landed.
A few puppy drum were beached by surf fishermen near the lighthouse. And a handful of speckled trout were dragged from the surf near Ramp 55 during a recent period of moderate weather.
Stripers weighing between 20 and 30 pounds were taken at Cape Point Feb. 2 late in the afternoon and again Feb. 3 in the morning.
A run of stripers mixed with citation-sized bluefish developed Feb. 3 during the afternoon, and continued until dark.
Striped bass should be available all along the Dare coast throughout the month as National Marine Fisheries Service cooperative trawl surveys indicate plenty of nice-sized fish located a short distance offshore.
Good drop net catches were reported east of Frisco Pier Feb. 4, so sporadic bluefish runs at Cape Point also are a possibility. ILLUSTRATION: Staff photo by DREW C. WILSON
A big bluefin tuna is tagged on the stern of the Hunter as anglers
look over the transom at the catch.