DATE: Tuesday, September 23, 1997           TAG: 9709230366

SECTION: LOCAL                   PAGE: B1   EDITION: NORTH CAROLINA 

COLUMN: Fishing on the Outer Banks 

SOURCE: Damon Tatem 

                                            LENGTH:   65 lines

SPANISH MACKEREL AND SPOT CAUGHT IN GOOD NUMBERS

Pier fishing along the Outer Banks was good during the weekend at several locations.

Kitty Hawk Pier reported some spot, sea mullet and a few Spanish mackerel landed Saturday. Fishing was slow Sunday because of rough seas.

A few Spanish mackerel, albacore and 24-pound cobia were landed from the end of Avalon Pier Saturday. Quite a few small flounder were released. Good numbers of spot and sea mullet were taken during most of the day Sunday.

A few Spanish mackerel, spot and albacore were caught from Nags Head Pier early Saturday morning. Afternoon fishing was slow. Scattered tailor blues were landed Sunday.

Fishermen on Jennette's Pier landed a handful of Spanish mackerel, spot and sea mullet Saturday. Scattered spot were taken Sunday off and on.

Fishing was slow on Outer Banks Pier Saturday, with a few Spanish mackerel and small spot landed. Fishing was somewhat slow Sunday morning, but a good run of spot developed as conditions improved during the afternoon.

South of Oregon Inlet, Rodanthe Pier reported five king mackerel weighing as much as 17 pounds taken Saturday. King mackerel fishing was good most of the day, but not as good as Friday when 16 king mackerel were taken.

Plenty of Spanish mackerel were landed Saturday, primarily during the afternoon. Spot, mullet and croaker were landed Sunday.

Plenty of Spanish mackerel weighing between 3 and 7 1/2 pounds were caught from Avon Pier Saturday afternoon. Two jacks were released and a 15-pound king mackerel was landed.

Following a slow morning Sunday, Spanish mackerel and blues were taken from the end of the pier most of the afternoon.

Little fishing action was reported from Frisco Pier Saturday because of strong southwest winds. Croaker, spot and 12- to 13-inch gray trout were landed Sunday.

Surfcasters landed small bottom fish from Corolla to Oregon Inlet Saturday, but rough seas kept action to a minimum Sunday.

Scattered Spanish mackerel, blues and sea mullet were taken by surf fishermen Saturday from Rodanthe to Buxton. Fishing was slow in the area Sunday.

Spanish mackerel, albacore and a few nice flounder were landed Saturday morning at Cape Point. Afternoon fishing was slow because of the southwesterly winds. A few Spanish mackerel, blues, flounder and pompano were taken Sunday.

Fishing was slow along the beach from Frisco to Hatteras Inlet Saturday, but northeast winds Sunday caused a big improvement. Plenty of 1- to 3-pound bluefish were taken on just about any type of bait in the area throughout the day.

Inshore trolling was good outside Oregon Inlet Saturday with albacore, Spanish mackerel and small king mackerel taken.

Dolphin fishing was good between the 40500 and the 40900 Loran lines off Oregon Inlet Saturday. Scattered tuna and wahoo also were landed.

Billfish releases included two sailfish each by the Fast Lane and the Boss Lady, one blue marlin each by the Fintastic and the Hooker and a sailfish by the Pelican.

Charters of Hatteras landed plenty of dolphin and wahoo Saturday. Some king mackerel also were taken. Billfish releases included one sailfish each by the Big Eye, the Eagle, the Luck Chip, the Fish Wagon, the Hunter and the Fin Fantasy.

Spot fishing should be good on piers along the Dare coast as winds and seas subside.

The water temperature was 72 degrees Monday at the Army Corps of Engineers Pier in Duck, and 77 degrees at Frisco Pier on Hatteras Island.

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