DATE: Tuesday, September 16, 1997           TAG: 9709160295

SECTION: LOCAL                   PAGE: B1   EDITION: NORTH CAROLINA 

COLUMN: FISHING ON THE OUTER BANKS 

SOURCE: Damon Tatem

                                            LENGTH:   63 lines

FEW FISH WERE BITING ALONG THE COAST THIS WEEKEND

Pier fishing was fair along the Dare coast during the weekend.

Anglers on Kitty Hawk Pier caught scattered spot and released lots of small puppy drum Saturday. Quite a few spot were landed Sunday morning but fishing slowed as the day progressed, with only a few blues and spot taken.

A few spot, blues, mullet, small jacks and small speckled trout were landed on Avalon Pier during the weekend.

Fishermen on Nags Head Pier caught a handful of bluefish, spot and speckled trout early Saturday. Spot, some mullet and scattered pompano were taken later in the day. Fishing was slow Sunday, with a few bottom fish and pompano landed. A few spot were caught from Jennette's Pier Saturday morning.

A few Spanish mackerel were taken early Sunday morning, but fishing was slow the rest of day.

A few spot, bluefish and small flounder were caught from Outer Banks Pier Saturday. Fishing was slow Sunday, with scattered small bottom fish, bluefish and several albacore taken.

South of Oregon Inlet, Rodanthe Pier reported good numbers of Spanish mackerel and bluefish landed early Saturday morning. A few sheepshead were taken and quite a few small puppy drum were released during the afternoon.

Little action was reported Sunday from Rodanthe Pier.

Lots of bluefish weighing between 1 to 2 pounds were decked Saturday afternoon on Avon Pier. A few bluefish were taken Sunday morning, but fishing was slow later in the day.

Fishing was slow throughout the weekend on Frisco Pier, with only a few keeper flounder and small pompano landed.

Surf fishermen landed small bottom fish, tailor blues and a few albacore from Corolla to Oregon Inlet Saturday and Sunday.

Some speckled trout were landed by anglers fishing along the bank of the south side of Oregon Inlet during the weekend. Anglers on the inlet's north side caught some bluefish and scattered bottom fish.

Plenty of bluefish were beached and lots of undersized puppy drum were released by surfcasters from Rodanthe to Buxton throughout the weekend.

Small bluefish, a few Spanish mackerel, mullet and a few keeper puppy drum were hauled in at Cape Point.

Gray trout were landed during most of Saturday night by fishermen along the sound side of Hatteras Island. Bluefish were landed in the surf around the inlet Saturday and Sunday afternoons.

Albacore, bluefish and a few Spanish mackerel were landed by anglers trolling off Oregon Inlet during the weekend.

Dolphin fishing was good east to northeast of Oregon Inlet Saturday and Sunday in 50 fathoms of water. Tuna fishing was fair, with yellowfin taken weighing as much as 50 pounds.

Fifty billfish were released Saturday, including three white marlin, one blue marlin and a sailfish by the Sea Toy and five white marlin by the Prime Time. Scattered billfish were released Sunday.

Inshore trolling for bluefish was good around Hatteras Inlet duringthe weekend.

Dolphin fishing was good off Hatteras Saturday. Scattered wahoo also were taken. Billfish releases included one sailfish each by the Big Eye, the Old Sale and the Albatross II, and a blue marlin by the Fish Wagon.

Dolphin and wahoo fishing were excellent in the Gulf Stream off Hatteras Sunday. A sailfish was released by the Tuna Duck.

The water temperature was 75 degrees Monday at the Army Corps of Engineers Pier in Duck, and 79 degrees at Frisco Pier on Hatteras Island.

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