DATE: Sunday, September 14, 1997            TAG: 9709120264

SECTION: CAROLINA COAST          PAGE: 35   EDITION: FINAL 

COLUMN: HOW TO HOOK 'EM 

SOURCE: Damon Tatem 

                                            LENGTH:   93 lines

PIER FISHING SHOULD BE GOOD SPOT, CROAKER, PUPPY DRUM AND MULLET MAY BE LANDED ALONG COAST

FISHING SHOULD BE good on many fronts along the Dare coast this week as water temperatures begin to cool with the approach of fall weather.

Nice-sized spot should arrive in force in the area as they migrate south, providing good action for pier anglers. Most of the fish will be taken on bloodworms on the incoming tide. Small hooks provide the best results, because these fish seldom weigh more than a pound.

The best action should be when the winds are from a northeasterly direction and the water is somewhat stirred up.

Pier anglers also should land some nice croaker as they move south after spending the summer in the Chesapeake Bay. Croaker hit a variety of baits ranging from cut bait to squid. Most of the fish landed probably will weigh less than a pound. But croaker weighing as much as 3 pounds are a possibility. Large fish were plentiful in the Chesapeake Bay area throughout most of the summer.

Puppy drum should begin to show up in pier catches during periods of fairly rough seas. Most of these fish will be taken on fresh cut bait by anglers fishing inshore near the surf.

Big drum are an early fall season possibility for pier jockeys. Most of the fish taken will be landed on piers south of Oregon Inlet.

Nice-sized sea mullet should begin to show up in pier catches across the Outer Banks. These fish generally are landed on sand fleas, fresh shrimp or bloodworms. Spinner hooks provide an advantage for sea mullet fishing in many cases.

The best action should be on the rising tide when the water isn't extremely clear.

Bluefish and Spanish mackerel should be landed daily on ocean piers when the water is clear. Action can be anywhere along the pier. Generally most of it occurs on the end.

Jiggers and tandem bucktail rigs are the most effective baits for Spanish mackerel.

Bluefish can be landed bottom fishing with cut bait when seas are rough and the water is dirty.

Pompano action along the northern beaches should slow down due to a drop in water temperatures. But pier anglers south of Oregon Inlet should continue to catch fish during the rest of the month.

Some speckled trout and gray trout should be landed sporadically by pier fishermen at most locations. Flounder also should be taken occasionally by anglers fishing live bait around pier pilings.

Live bait fishing season for king mackerel and cobia is just about over. But a late-season king mackerel catch is a possibility, particularly on piers south of Oregon Inlet.

Surf fishing should get into full swing this week if sea conditions are moderate.

Surf-casters should catch plenty of spot, croaker and pigfish from deeper sloughs along the oceanfront.

Some nice sea mullet should be taken by anglers using soft sand fleas or fresh shrimp for bait.

Pompano action should decrease north of Oregon Inlet but could remain viable in the lower Hatteras area for the next few weeks.

Flounder fishing should improve, with the best action around Cape Point.

Drum fishing should begin with puppy drum landed in the surf all along the Dare coast when the water is rough. Some large drum should be beached nightly at Cape Point and in the Hatteras Inlet area. Action should be particularly good on southwest winds.

Most drum are landed either on fresh mullet or menhaden.

Speckled trout should begin to appear along the northern beaches in deeper sloughs formed north of ocean piers. Most will be taken on soft plastic artificial lures or Mirrolures. Action should improve during the next several weeks if the weather is cool.

Bluefishing should be fairly good along the entire Dare coast early mornings and late afternoons. Fish should be taken on a variety of lures if the water is clear. If the water is dirty, try cut bait.

Spanish mackerel should be landed at Cape Point and around Hatteras Inlet when the water is clear. Action should taper off, however, as water temperatures drop.

Inshore trolling around Oregon Inlet should be good for bluefish and albacore. King mackerel should be fairly plentiful on tide lines and color changes a short distance outside the inlet.

Drift fishermen in Oregon Inlet and in the sound west of the inlet should catch flounder, croaker and gray trout.

Blue-water action off Oregon Inlet should be pretty good this week. Yellowfin tuna catches should improve. Dolphin fishing should be good. And scattered billfish should be released. Billfish action should be over by the month's end.

Hatteras charters should land plenty of dolphin and wahoo. A few nice tuna also should be taken. A few billfish should be released as the season winds down. ILLUSTRATION: Staff photo by DREW WILSON

Bob Foley, 76, of Rochester, N.Y., casts from the Fishing Unlimited

soundside ``little pier'' off the Nags Head Causeway on Tuesday.

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