DATE: Tuesday, October 14, 1997             TAG: 9710140431

SECTION: LOCAL                   PAGE: B1   EDITION: NORTH CAROLINA 

COLUMN: FISHING ON THE OUTER BANKS

SOURCE: DAMON TATEM

                                            LENGTH:   71 lines

NORTHERLY WINDS GIVE A BOOST TO WEEKEND PIER FISHING

Northerly winds helped to provide good pier fishing along the northern beaches during the weekend.

Spot fishing was excellent Saturday and Sunday on Kitty Hawk Pier, with nice-sized fish landed steadily.

Avalon Pier reported spot taken two at a time Saturday afternoon. A few bluefish, small flounder, scattered spot and a few trout were landed Sunday. King mackerel weighing 20 and 30 pounds were taken late in the day.

Fishermen on Nags Head Pier caught some spot and gray trout Saturday. An 8 1/4-pound black drum was landed by David Scott of Clemmons, N.C. Fishing was slow Sunday, with only a few spot, bluefish and Spanish mackerel taken.

Plenty of spot and a few black drum were caught from Jennette's Pier late Saturday. Fishing slowed Sunday, with only a handful of spot, black drum and pompano taken.

Spot fishing was good on Outer Banks Pier from 1 to 5 p.m. Saturday. A few bluefish, sea mullet and an 8 1/2-pound black drum also were taken.

Small puppy drum, flounder, a few blues, Spanish mackerel and a 9 1/2-pound black drum were decked Sunday. A 19-inch striped bass and a 24-inch striped bass were released.

South of Oregon Inlet, Rodanthe Pier reported fairly slow fishing Saturday with a few puppy drum, sea mullet and bluefish taken. Action improved Sunday with lots of sea mullet, scattered small gray trout and a few nice flounder landed Sunday afternoon.

Fishing was slow on Avon Pier Saturday. A few spot, sea mullet and some large flounder were landed Sunday.

A few sea mullet, pompano and small flounder were taken from Frisco Pier Saturday. Sea mullet were landed in good numbers Sunday along with some nice flounder and a 5-pound black drum.

Surf fishing was fair along the northern beaches, with a few bottom fish and tailor blues taken.

Fishing was good throughout the weekend in the Oregon Inlet area. Gray trout and keeper flounder were landed by anglers in the Green Island Slough area and lots of gray trout were taken from the catwalk on the south end of the Bonner Bridge.

Croaker and bluefish were taken from the inlet's south side. Some nice-sized stripers were released in the area.

Small bluefish, sea mullet, and few spot and some pompano were landed along the beach from Rodanthe to Buxton during the weekend. Some keeper puppy drum were beached and quite a few under the legal 18-inch size limit were released.

Sea mullet, pompano, spot, flounder and a few large croaker were landed Saturday at Cape Point. Puppy drum were taken Saturday night and Sunday morning. Flounder fishing was good on the south side of Cape Point and along the south beach Sunday.

One- to 3- pound bluefish were beached in the Hatteras Inlet area Friday evening. Some keeper flounder were caught in the surf at the inlet Saturday.

Mullet and pompano were taken by surfcasters from Ramp 55 to the inlet. Gray trout and bluefish were caught at the inlet Saturday night. Fishing slowed Sunday, with some pompano taken.

Inshore trolling for king mackerel and albacore was good northeast of Oregon Inlet Saturday. Headboats around the inlet caught some sea bass, trout and flounder. Blue water action was fair, with a few tuna and king mackerel landed.

Scattered king mackerel and a very few yellowfin tuna were taken by the Pirates Cove and Oregon Inlet fleets Sunday.

Charters of Hatteras caught good numbers of king mackerel and wahoo Saturday. A few king mackerel, scattered wahoo, dolphin and blackfin tuna were landed Sunday. Quite a few barracuda also were taken.

Sailfish were released by the Good Times and the Sea Creature.

Drum fishing should improve this week if a substantial cold front goes through the area.

The water temperature was 71 degrees Monday at the Army Corps of Engineers Pier in Duck, and 73 degrees at Frisco Pier on Hatteras Island.

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