DATE: Sunday, April 20, 1997                TAG: 9704180266

SECTION: CAROLINA COAST          PAGE: 19   EDITION: FINAL 

COLUMN: HOW TO HOOK 'EM 

SOURCE: Damon Tatem 
                                            LENGTH:   59 lines

TEMPS SHOULD HAVE FISHERMEN REELING ON THE PIERS THIS WEEK

As water temperatures climb into the mid-50s this week, pier and surf fishing should improve along the northern Outer Banks beaches.

Sea mullet, croaker and toadfish should appear regularly in pier catches. Pier anglers also should begin to catch some tailor bluefish on double bucktail rigs and jiggers early mornings and late afternoons, providing the water is fairly clear.

Spot and gray trout fishing should improve gradually over the next several weeks as water temperatures rise into the low 60s. Spring runs of speckled trout are a possibility on northern beach piers. But expectations should not include a lot of action as the overall coastal population of this species is low.

Surf fishermen from Corolla to Oregon Inlet should land sea mullet, toadfish, a mixture of small bottom fish and a few tailor bluefish. A few puppy drum also should be hauled from deeper sloughs, particularly around Oregon Inlet and a little south of the inlet.

Most of the sea mullet and other small bottom fish will be caught on bloodworms and fresh shrimp. Bluefish and drum usually take fresh cut bait, either mullet or menhaden. If the water is clear, bluefish will aggressively hit artificial lures such as Hopkins or Gator spoons. Occasionally, drum also are landed by surfcasters using artificial lures.

Piers south of Oregon Inlet should have good fishing this week. Sea mullet weighing as much as 1 1/2pounds should be taken daily by anglers fishing from Rodanthe and Avon piers. Gray trout fishing should be pretty good, especially at night. A few flounder, speckled trout and an occasional bluefish also should be landed.

Fishermen on Frisco Pier on the lower end of Hatteras Island where the water temperature will probably be in the 60s should land sea mullet, spot, small gray trout and croaker. A good run of puppy drum also is a possibility.

Sea mullet action should be good in the surf along the beach from Rodanthe to Buxton. Croaker, small bluefish, toadfish, gray trout, black drum and puppy drum also should be taken.

Big drum should be taken nightly at Cape Point along with plenty of puppy drum. Scattered big bluefish also are a possibility. Sea mullet, bluefish and a few gray trout should be landed during the daytime at Cape Point.

Flounder fishing should be good along the beach south of Cape Point.

In the Frisco area, surf fishermen should beach a mixture of small bottom fish and a few gray trout. Puppy drum, tailor blues and some big drum should be taken regularly from the surf in the False Point area.

Yellowfin tuna fishing should be great southeast of Oregon Inlet near the point. Scattered dolphin, a few wahoo and possibly a few billfish also should be landed by offshore anglers in the area.

Charters off Hatteras ought to catch plenty of medium-sized yellowfin tuna and scattered dolphin around the 280 Rocks. Good king mackerel catches should be landed on the rockpile. A few marlin should be hooked and released in the area daily. ILLUSTRATION: Photo by DREW C. WILSON

Anglers wait patiently for a bite on the Avalon Pier on Wednesday.

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