Pier Fishing

Bud Kennedy · October 16, 2015, 08:47:39 AM

Just may have to drop a line in the salt. Used to fish here often but not recently. Wife want to try it for a while.

LgMouthGambler · October 16, 2015, 09:17:03 AM

Some snapper will make for a good sandwich.

Bud Kennedy · October 16, 2015, 09:42:37 AM

In the past I have caught whiting, trout, spanish and a couple of kings here but usually whiting.

LgMouthGambler · October 16, 2015, 09:44:38 AM

Mmmm, smoke king fish.

Oldfart9999 · October 16, 2015, 10:53:12 AM

If I fish the piers here I get trout, salmon, smallmouth and drum.
Rodney

Pferox · October 16, 2015, 11:49:31 AM

Good Luck Bud, whiting are good eating, although they tend to not want to stay together while poaching.

At the pier I fish in Galveston, I catch a lot of different species, Whiting, Croaker, Stingray, Redfish, Sea Trout, Sand Trout, Pompano, Jack Crevalle, Hardhead catfish, Gafftopsail Cats (good eating also, BTW), and those are just a few species.

Many species are seasonal, and everything changes day to day, it looks like a great fishing spot from the picture.

SFL BassHunter · December 04, 2015, 04:43:29 PM

Quote from: Bud Kennedy on October 16, 2015, 09:42:37 AM
In the past I have caught whiting, trout, spanish and a couple of kings here but usually whiting.

Nothing wrong with some Whiting. Decent tasting fish. Seatrout is delicious.

SFL BassHunter · December 04, 2015, 04:49:42 PM

Speaking of pier fishing, plan on going down to Islamorada tomorrow in the Florida Keys for some bridge fishing. I guess technically it is a pier now because it doesn't connect to anything. Channel #5. Went to Walmart today and got me some saltwater stuff I needed. A small tackle box, some terminal tackle, and yes Pferox I bought some 1/0 circle hooks. I know I hated on them before but we will see.

If the weather holds up I hope to catch some snapper out there. Or something else I can eat lol.

Pferox · December 04, 2015, 08:45:09 PM

Nice little stash there, Rick. Good luck at the pier / bridge. Most of the time around here snapper is usually caught on the Jetties for some reason instead of the piers, maybe the current or depth, not sure.

If you like to set the hook, you might want to try Academy's house brand circle hooks, they look alot like a J hook, but are curled in, they seem to be a little more forgiving. They are pretty inexpensive and stout to boot.

I am dying to go, but with the temps in the 50s, and me cold all the time, I would catch that wind on that pier and would freeze, so am holding off. It will get to the point that I won't be able to hold back anymore and all I will do is become a Pferoxcicle watching my line freeze over there.

SFL BassHunter · December 05, 2015, 06:47:50 AM

Quote from: Pferox on December 04, 2015, 08:45:09 PM
Nice little stash there, Rick. Good luck at the pier / bridge. Most of the time around here snapper is usually caught on the Jetties for some reason instead of the piers, maybe the current or depth, not sure.

If you like to set the hook, you might want to try Academy's house brand circle hooks, they look alot like a J hook, but are curled in, they seem to be a little more forgiving. They are pretty inexpensive and stout to boot.

I am dying to go, but with the temps in the 50s, and me cold all the time, I would catch that wind on that pier and would freeze, so am holding off. It will get to the point that I won't be able to hold back anymore and all I will do is become a Pferoxcicle watching my line freeze over there.

I guess I will remember that for next time. But I have plenty of hooks and since I don't fish saltwater as often I am guessing I have enough hooks for a while. I have 3 kinds of hooks, the regular ones, the circle hooks for live bait and kahle hooks (Which i bought by accident a long time ago thinking they were circle hooks. Either way have same function.) The kahle hooks are bigger so I don't anticipate using those. My circle hooks are 1/0, I like to go small for snapper and grunts. Snapper seem to be either more intelligent or have better eye sight in my opinion because you put a big hook on there or a thick line and you won't get a bite.

I hope the weather is better at isla morada. It is pouring at my house.

Pferox · December 05, 2015, 07:52:43 AM

So how did Y'all do? I kind of need a pier report fix.

Bud, to me, pier fishing is a lot better than surf fishing. Mostly because I can pick where in the surf I want to fish, stand over it and cast into it. It is also easier on the gear, and you usually don't have sand all over everything.

As long as you don't run into somebody ignorant, or a pot licker, it can be a very relaxing experience. When I was doing it regularly, all the regulars were pretty friendly and supportive.

With a pier net you can fish with bass weight gear, although I personally wouldn't. Most of my pier gear is heavier than my inshore stuff, just to great a chance of hooking onto a biggun. I actually like catfishing rods for inexpensive pier rods, and fiberglass is my composition of choice also.

SFL BassHunter · December 05, 2015, 10:02:23 PM

Quote from: Pferox on December 05, 2015, 07:52:43 AM
So how did Y'all do? I kind of need a pier report fix.

Bud, to me, pier fishing is a lot better than surf fishing. Mostly because I can pick where in the surf I want to fish, stand over it and cast into it. It is also easier on the gear, and you usually don't have sand all over everything.

As long as you don't run into somebody ignorant, or a pot licker, it can be a very relaxing experience. When I was doing it regularly, all the regulars were pretty friendly and supportive.

With a pier net you can fish with bass weight gear, although I personally wouldn't. Most of my pier gear is heavier than my inshore stuff, just to great a chance of hooking onto a biggun. I actually like catfishing rods for inexpensive pier rods, and fiberglass is my composition of choice also.

I don't have any actual saltwater fishing rods. All my rods are freshwater. Including the one I used today. I have a sienna 4000 on it. It is a Shimano Sojourn. 7'0 Heavy Fast. It sucks for bass fishing, has no sensitivity for bass. Apparently it is a Muskie Rod. Interestingly enough I bought it in Tampa at a tackle store next to the ocean lol. I had no clue about rods and reels at that point since I had never fished with anything better than a shakespear heavy duty rod. My buddy was with me and he bought 2 because they were on sale for about 16 bucks. He checked it out and said, looks like a good rod, nice backbone, this will work just fine for salt. I said cool I will get one too.

So for 2 years now I have been using that rod at piers and bank fishing in saltwater.

Not sure how it will hold up against a BIG fish but whatever. If it doesn't then at least I only lost 16 bucks. lol

Pferox · December 05, 2015, 11:00:00 PM

Musky rod is a good choice, only concern is what the guides are made of, but if you clean them once in awhile, they will last a while.

I actually found an old MH Spinning Ugly Stick laying on the side of the shoreline one day while at work. All the guides were either rusted off or ready to. The bottom of the grip was kind of gouged out too. I took it home and using a fly tying bobbin, replaced the guides with whatever I had laying around. I then took a tennis racket grip repair tape and use it on the handle that I took off the foam. I have been fishing with it off and on for about 5 years and it is still kicking. As a matter of fact a few years ago I used it to catch all my black drum during the fall run that year. Fish don't care how your rod looks, as long as it is up to do the job.