DATE: Wednesday, October 22, 1997           TAG: 9710220539

SECTION: LOCAL                   PAGE: B1   EDITION: NORTH CAROLINA 

COLUMN: FISHING ON THE OUTER BANKS 

SOURCE: Damon Tatem

                                            LENGTH:   43 lines

FISHING GAINS AS WINDS, SEAS SUBSIDE

Pier fishing improved Tuesday along the Dare coast, as winds and seas subsided from the weekend northeaster.

Kitty Hawk Pier reported a few puppy drum landed.

Sharks and skates provided the only action reported on Avalon Pier.

Small puppy drum were decked on Nags Head Pier. A 30-inch striper was caught by Ray Herbin of Nags Head.

Puppy drum fishing was good on Jennette's Pier, but most of the fish had to be released because they were less than the minimum size limit of 18 inches. A few croaker also were taken.

Outer Banks Pier reported lots of small puppy drum released, and a few keepers retained. Some spot and sea mullet were landed off and on during the day.

South of Oregon Inlet, anglers on Rodanthe Pier caught puppy drum weighing as much as 8 1/2 pounds, several small stripers and quite a few spot.

Lots of small puppy drum were hooked and released on Avon Pier. Keepers were scarce.

Frisco Pier reported lots of spot, small puppy drum and a few speckled trout taken.

Surfcasters landed puppy drum, small bluefish and bottom fish along the northern beaches and around Oregon Inlet.

Drum weighing as much as 25 pounds were taken in the surf from Rodanthe to Buxton.

Some nice-sized puppy drum were beached across from the Cape Hatteras Lighthouse and at Cape Point. Flounder and bluefish were landed along the beach south of the Cape.

Scattered puppy drum, bluefish and black drum were caught by surfcasters from Ramp 55 to Hatteras Inlet.

Blue water action off Oregon Inlet was slow Tuesday, with only a few dolphin and tuna landed.

Gulf Stream action also left a lot to be desired off Hatteras. Only scattered king mackerel were landed.

The water temperature was 65 degrees Tuesday at the Army Corps of Engineers Pier in Duck, and 70 degrees at Frisco Pier on Hatteras Island.

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