DATE: Tuesday, April 22, 1997               TAG: 9704220361

SECTION: LOCAL                   PAGE: B1   EDITION: NORTH CAROLINA 

COLUMN: FISHING ON THE OUTER BANKS

SOURCE: DAMON TATEM

                                            LENGTH:   56 lines

FOR THE MOST PART, WEEKEND PIER FISHING IS SLOW

Pier fishing along the northern beaches was generally slow during the weekend.

A few keeper speckled trout were landed on bucktail rigs from Kitty Hawk Pier on Saturday and Sunday mornings. The fish were taken between the beach and the fish cleaning stand. The only other action reported was a few sand perch caught in the afternoons.

Anglers on Avalon Pier caught some 8- to 12-inch croaker three-quarters of the way out on the pier Saturday. A few toadfish and a shad were the only fish taken Sunday.

Nags Head Pier reported a few croaker and ling cod caught Saturday. Although nothing was landed Sunday morning, a few bluefish were taken on white bucktails Sunday afternoon.

Fishing was slow on Jennette's Pier throughout the weekend.

Skates, a couple of toadfish and several sea mullet were landed Saturday from Outer Banks Pier. Fishing was poor Sunday, with only skates decked.

South of Oregon Inlet, fishermen on Rodanthe Pier caught a few sharks, skates and toadfish Saturday and Sunday.

Avon Pier reported fairly good sea mullet fishing Saturday morning. A few gray trout also were taken. Only a few small spot were landed in the afternoon. Scattered sea mullet were caught Sunday.

Plenty of sea mullet and lots of small gray trout were decked on Frisco Pier Saturday afternoon. Scattered sea mullet, small croaker and toadfish were landed Sunday morning. Little action was reported Sunday afternoon.

Surf fishing along the northern beaches was slow throughout the weekend. Anglers around Oregon Inlet managed to catch a few small bottom fish, skates and small gray trout.

Lots of skates and a few toadfish were beached in the Rodanthe/ Salvo area Saturday. Fishing was slow in the area Sunday.

Sea mullet and small gray trout were beached by anglers fishing from both sides of Cape Point Sunday. Several drum and big bluefish were caught Saturday night. Some false albacore were landed Sunday morning, and sea mullet and flounder were caught Sunday afternoon.

Some large sea mullet and small puppy drum were taken by surf fishermen near Ramp 55 Saturday. Sea mullet, nice flounder and several 8- to 10-pound puppy drum were landed in the surf along the beach from Hatteras Inlet to the motels. No charters were run offshore Saturday because of gusty winds. Action resumed Sunday, with good catches of yellowfin tuna taken by the Oregon Inlet and Pirates Cove fleets between the 40200 and the 40350 Loran lines. Some limits of dolphin also were taken by charters in the area.

Hatteras blue water action was good, with yellowfin tuna, quite a few dolphin, a few king mackerel and some wahoo landed between the rockpile and the 40300 Loran line. A blue marlin was released by the Gravy.

Drum fishing should improve at Cape Point with the arrival of warmer weather and southwest winds.

The water temperature was 53 degrees Monday at the Army Corps of Engineers Pier in Duck, and 55 degrees at Frisco Pier on Hatteras Island.

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