DATE: Tuesday, July 29, 1997                TAG: 9707290296

SECTION: LOCAL                   PAGE: B1   EDITION: NORTH CAROLINA 

COLUMN: FISHING ON THE OUTER BANKS 

SOURCE: Damon Tatem

                                            LENGTH:   71 lines

PIER FISHING SLOW, BUT SOME BIG ONES WERE TAKEN SOUTH OF OREGON INLET

Pier fishing along the northern beaches was slow over the weekend, but some big fish were caught from piers south of Oregon Inlet.

Kitty Hawk Pier anglers caught a few tailor bluefish Saturday.

A few bluefish and throw-back flounder were landed on Avalon Pier Saturday. Some small Spanish mackerel, small bluefish, small spot and baby flounder were taken Sunday.

Anglers on Nags Head Pier caught a few trout early Saturday morning. A handful of small croaker, spot and bluefish were taken in the afternoon. A few spot and small flounder were decked Sunday.

Jennette's Pier reported a few bottom fish taken Saturday.

Fishing was slow on Outer Banks Pier Saturday and Sunday. Anglers managed to catch only a few small spot. Scattered small flounder were released.

South of Oregon Inlet, small bottom fish were taken on Rodanthe Pier Saturday. A few king mackerel were lost and a 4 1/2-pound Spanish mackerel was landed by fishermen using live bait.

A 38 1/2-pound king mackerel and a few nice flounder were taken Sunday on Rodanthe Pier.

Avon Pier reported slow fishing all weekend, with small croaker and a few small spot taken.

Anglers on Frisco Pier caught a 22-pound king mackerel and an 18-pound king mackerel Saturday, along with a few flounder, pompano and Spanish mackerel.

A 36-pound king mackerel, a 25-pound king mackerel and a 53-pound cobia were landed Sunday, along with a few spot and pompano.

Surf fishing along the beach from Corolla to Oregon Inlet was slow, with scattered small bottom fish taken during the weekend.

Some keeper flounder, croaker, gray trout and small bluefish were landed from the north and south sides of Oregon Inlet Saturday and Sunday. Sheepshead and a few black drum were caught around the pilings of the Bonner Bridge.

Some nice sea mullet, pompano and spot were beached from Rodanthe to Buxton throughout the weekend.

Pompano, sea mullet and keeper flounder were landed at Cape Point by surf fishermen Saturday. Bluefish were beached at Cape Point early Sunday morning, and nice sea mullet and pompano were caught south of Cape Point.

Plenty of bluefish were taken in the Hatteras Inlet area Saturday and Sunday night. Large sea mullet and pompano weighing more than two pounds were taken near Ramp 55 Sunday.

Inshore trolling around Oregon Inlet was generally slow during the weekend, with a few blues and Spanish mackerel taken. A few dolphin were landed on the tide lines several miles outside the inlet. Headboat action was slow.

A few yellowfin tuna were taken by offshore charters Saturday near the point. Dolphin fishing was good, with some limits taken.

Nineteen billfish were released, including two blue marlin by the Capt. B.C., two sailfish by the Tuna Fever, a sailfish by the Phideaux and a white marlin by the Surfside.The best marlin action was scattered between the 40400 and the 40630 Loran lines.

Dolphin fishing was good again Sunday, with the best action from the east of the inlet to the point. A few tuna were taken near the point.

Sunday's billfish releases included two white marlin each by the Capt. B.C. and the Wildfire, and one white marlin each by the Right Hook and the First Crack.

Blue water action off Hatteras was fair Saturday. Scattered dolphin and wahoo were taken by offshore charters.

Several billfish were released, including a blue marlin and a white marlin by the Top Billing, a blue marlin by the Release and a sailfish by the Chapin.

A few dolphin were landed off Hatteras Sunday along with scattered wahoo. Two sailfish were released by the Tuna Duck and one sailfish was released by the Bullfrog.

Increasing numbers of pompano should be landed by anglers along the northern beaches if water temperatures rise into the mid-70s.

The water temperature was 72 degrees Monday at the Army Corps of Engineers Pier in Duck, and 81 degrees at Frisco Pier.

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