DATE: Wednesday, May 7, 1997                TAG: 9705070459

SECTION: LOCAL                   PAGE: B1   EDITION: NORTH CAROLINA 

COLUMN: FISHING ON THE OUTER BANKS 

SOURCE: Damon Tatem

                                            LENGTH:   40 lines

DIRTY WATER, GUSTY WINDS KEEP FISHING AT A MINIMUM

Pier fishing along the northern beaches was slow Tuesday due to dirty water caused by gusty southwest winds.

Kitty Hawk reported little action. On Avalon Pier, a few spot and sea mullet were taken.

Ling cod and skates were landed during the morning at Nags Head Pier, and a few small bluefish and sea mullet were taken in the afternoon.

Anglers on Jennette's Pier caught a few sea mullet, spot and toadfish mostly during the afternoon.

Lots of skates, a few pigfish and an occasional sea mullet were taken from Outer Banks Pier.

Rodanthe Pier reported slow fishing, with only a few gray trout and sea mullet landed.

A few sea mullet were taken from the end of Avon Pier sporadically throughout the day.

Frisco Pier also reported little action, with a few sand perch and sea mullet caught in the morning.

Surf fishing was slow along the northern beaches.

Sea mullet were beached in fair numbers by surfcasters from Rodanthe to Buxton during the morning, but strong winds throughout the afternoon kept fishing at a minimum.

A few flounder and an occasional sea mullet were beached at Cape Point.

Fair numbers of big drum were hauled from the surf at False Point Monday night. Sharks and rays were taken in the area Tuesday. Surfcasters caught small blues from Ramp 55 to Hatteras Inlet off and on during the day.

Blue water action was slow off Oregon Inlet Tuesday due to strong winds. Charters landed only a handful of yellowfin tuna.

Hatteras offshore fishing was also a little slow, with scattered tuna, dolphin and wahoo landed.

The water temperature Tuesday was 53 degrees at the Army Corps of Engineers Pier in Duck and 66 degrees at the Frisco Pier in Hatteras.

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