Highlight Reels: Pier anglers find fish early mornings

Published 8:31 am Wednesday, July 22, 2020

Pier fishing along the northern beaches provided a mixed bag over the past week as the ocean water temperature fluctuated from mid-60s to the mid-70s.

At Jennette’s Pier in Nags Head last weekend, a few king mackerel were caught, including a citation-sized fish landed by Jose Martinez of Manteo on July 17.

It was 48 inches long and weighed 35.05 pounds, according to Larry Haley, security guard at Jennette’s Pier. In addition, anglers George Craig of Elizabeth City and Andy McKay of Cleveland, Ohio also decked nice kings on that Friday.

Get the latest headlines sent to you

Otherwise, anglers were sort of hung up in the summer doldrums on the ocean piers along Dare beaches. Steve at Outer Banks Pier in south Nags Head said early mornings have produced a couple blues, a couple sea mullet and a few spot, but nothing much in the heat of mid-day.

“The last couple mornings have been ok,” he noted.

At Nags Head Pier, John Chappell said they caught some sea mullet, small rockfish and bluefish Monday morning.

“We’re in the summer doldrums,” he said. “We’ve seen some nice sea mullet, a few mullet and a puppy drum here and there, flounder too.”

Up at Avalon Pier in Kill Devil Hills, Holly Stemmerich said they were getting a few fish in and over the rail.

“This morning we got croaker and a few Spanish mackerel,” she said. Otherwise, the “newbie” counter helper said they’ve seen flounder, blues and “a lot of spots.”

And finally, up in Kitty Hawk, Patty Allen reported that the ocean pier there is closed to the public due to COVID-19. Only Hilton guests can fish there right now.

Besides, not much was biting up there anyway, she noted.

“Nothing at all,” Allen said. “It’s been very, very, very hot!”

If you have some fishing news and/or photos, send them to obxfishnews@gmail.com.

READ MORE IN OUR ON THE WATER SECTION HERE.

RECENT HEADLINES:

Angler catches her first fish at Jennette’s Pier

Cape Hatteras Anglers Club cancels surf fishing tournament