Pier Fishing - High and Low Points

[Fishaholic]

Almost everyone who shore fishes has at one time or another had the opportunity to fish from a pier.

What do you feel makes one pier better than another, is it change of direction? Rip rap along the shoreline? structure nearby? close to deep water? man-made objects in the water?

What makes one pier worse than another? Overcrowded? Doesn't extend far enough out into the water? too much boat traffic close to the pier?

And thirdly, any experiences you'd like to share regarding pier fishing that might make the experience more enjoyable for other pier fishermen?

[Sharon]

Well lets see, since I am one who does do both, heres what I think.

  Pier fishing that we go to is in Tampa Bay/Gulf Coast. What I like about it is the chance to catch the bigger fish, such as tarpon, shark, sea bass and spanish mackeral. Even though I have caught some big cats in lakes, there is nothing like the rush of seeing your pole about to take off on the side of the pier and grabbing it up and tussling with the big ones.
  I also like that there are no tall weeds to get caught in which allows me to use the proper weights for the occasion. I dont have to worry about my line breaking in weeds or pulling up a mess of them and have to get them untangled off my line.
  What I dont like about it is, it can get very windy out there on the open water, causing your line to take off in a whole other direction. If its too windy out there, I just dropped straight down being careful not to be too close to any of the pier pillars so that my line doesnt drift and get stuck on them.
  Another dislike is the boaters without proper etiquette and run right through where lines have been cast. There is an open area for boats to use as a pass, yet some would still rather take a 'short cut'.  Also there are times when you do get hung up on rock and coral, but thats part of nature as with the weeds in the lakes.
   I guess the best thing of all is, Im fishing! Doesnt matter where, just that fact that I can and do enjoy it.

[Pferox]

OH man, good topic Fish, this right up Sharon's alley, her favorite place to fish is a pier.

[Fishaholic]

I kind of figured that when I started it.

Out here pier fishing is primarily for perch in the Summer, browns and coho in the Spring, and steelhead, browns, coho, chinook and lakers in the Fall. Some of the private piers are also very good for giant smallmouth.

The pier I go to once in awhile I usually am fishing for Spring cohos and browns on ultralite tackle.

For the most part boaters aren't a problem, because there's plenty of piers in no wake zones, and the boats can't get anywhere near the warm water discharges (which are also good in the dead of Winter for walleye, smallmouth, and steelhead).

A lot of fish seem to be attracted to the piers when the configuration is 2 or more piers in close proximity with at least one being adjacent to the others. Another thing that attracts the fish is when there's a pronounced mudline...that offers the larger predators a great ambush location.

[Pferox]

Just recently, my Bro in law put in what he terms a earthen pier in his lake.

The positives of it is that it gets you out far enough into the lake that you are past the inch deep water and weeds and your casts are more effective.
Its location is in a good spot, you are within a long cast from the Catfishin honey hole, and is far enough into the lake to cast to the shore for bass as if in a boat.

The negative is that because until cold kill, the weeds are above head tall, and close around the pier, because it is earthen, it is simular to en exposed sandbar, and a good ambush point for gators, so care has to be taken when night fishin.

All in all, it was a good lake improvement, its now much easier to access the actual lake body instead of blindly castin through a portion of flood plain.

[Sharon]

Another pier I use is at Saddle Creek Park in Lakeland, Fl.
  High point -These jut out into the water making it easier to cast further out and not get hung up in the weeds like in bank fishing. There are also a few that are handicapped accessible with parking along the side of the pier. Lots of vegetation under these piers make great hiding places for fish. I will sometimes cast under it while standing on the pier swinging my line forward to a good momentum then let the line go up under the pier.
  Low point - There are still ignorant people who arent handicapped that take these close up parking spots. Hooks and old line left by lazy fisherpeople on the pier itself. I usually pick it up and toss them unless we think they are salvagable. Some areas still have lots of vegetation close to the pier where you could get snagged in while reeling in.  Most of the shade trees are around the picnic areas, so it does get quite hot standing on them.

    All in all, this is my favorite local spot to fish at. Its close, has many areas you can  fish from, there is also a bait store at the entrance, many picnic areas and also several boat ramps placed all around this lake. It's a great family park!