10 Pier Fishing Gear Essentials to Get You Started
- Fishing Cart. Get a wheeled fishing cart that will make it easier to transport your tackle and gear from your vehicle to the pier.
- Rod and Reel Combo.
- Fishing Hooks.
- Bucktail Jigs.
- Hoop Net.
- Sinkers.
- Pliers with Line Cutters.
- Rod Holders.
What bait should I use for pier fishing?
Bait: Popular types of pier fishing bait include bloodworms, shrimp, squid, anchovies and sardines. These should all be available at your local pier or bait shop. Note: Live bait is ideal so try to find a shop that offers this option.
What size hook should I use for pier fishing?
Hook sizes depend on the size and species of fish being targeted, but Nos. 4 to 1/0 should handle most situations. The best baits to use will be live or cut specimens of whatever fish are feeding on at the time. You can catch your own or buy them from the pier or local tackle shop.
What weight line should I use for pier fishing?
20-pound
Recommended Saltwater Pier Fishing Gear: For successful pier fishing, you will want to bring a 6 to 9-foot long medium or heavy-action spinning fishing rod. A 20-pound test line should do well for general use.
What time is best to fish off a pier?
Generally speaking, the best time to fish from a pier is either early morning or sundown. This is when moving tides attract a lot of baitfish to the area, which in turn, brings out the big and hungry of the fish world, too.
What size rod is best for pier fishing?
In general, rods between 6 and 9 feet are the norm on jetties and piers, with 7 foot rods being the most common choice. In fact, short rods can be more rewarding when pier fishing because they are more sensitive and easier to control, which helps to handle large fish, commonly found in deep waters.
Do you use a bobber for pier fishing?
Rigs using Floats or Bobbers
This works great for shorter casts when fishing off a pier or long jetty. However, if longer casts are needed, construct this rig with a slip bobber. With bait, weight, and bobber all closer together, longer casts are less cumbersome.
What side of pier do you fish on?
In the spring, fish are migrating (or swimming) north, so you want to fish the south side of the pier so you can cast your lure south of the pier and retrieve it north back toward you.
How long should a pier fishing rod be?
Experts say that the best size fishing rod for pier fishing is about 7 to 8 feet in length.
What is 20lb fishing line good for?
General Rules for Monofilament
For small trout and sunfish, a 4 lb test is okay. For bass or general freshwater fishing, 6-8 lb test is the norm. In saltwater, 12-15 il test is standard when using light tackle for smaller species, while 17-20 lb test allows you to target bigger fish.
Does the weight go above or below the hook?
Attach the sinker about 2 ft (0.61 m) above the hook.
Leaving space between the sinker and hook helps your bait float up so it’s more visible to fish. Measure up from the top of your hook and pinch the line so you don’t lose your place.
Is pier fishing better at high or low tide?
High tide is definitely the best tide for pier fishing.
Conversely, low tide lowers the water level and makes it shallower and less comfortable for most species. As a result, you should expect fewer bites at that time.
Do fishing piers attract sharks?
Shark experts say piers are where sharks often gather. Fishermen cast bait from the pier, the bait attracts fish and the fish attract sharks.
Is shrimp good bait for pier fishing?
Of course. We can’t talk about the best baits for pier fishing without mentioning shrimp. In fact, shrimp should be on the list for any type of saltwater fishing.
Do fish come closer to shore at night?
More fish come closer to shore to feed at night
The main reason why fishing the surf is more rewarding is that at night, more fish will travel and come in closer to the shore to feed. Since the fish are hungry and feeding, this makes them much easier to catch than during the day.
Is a longer or shorter fishing pole better?
A short (6 feet or less) rod is ideal if you want to make short, accurate casts. When pinpoint accuracy is less critical, a long rod (over 7 feet) is the way to go. Dingy or dirty water and heavy cover are two situations where short-range accuracy is part of the recipe for success, and a shorter rod can really shine.
What is the best time to fish?
Best Fishing Times
- One hour before and one hour after high tides, and one hour before and one hour after low tides.
- During the “morning rise” (after sunup for a spell) and the “evening rise” (just before sundown and the hour or so after).
- During the rise and set of the Moon.
- When the barometer is steady or on the rise.
What is the difference between a bobber and sinker?
When cast, the bobber floats on the surface while the sinker pulls line through it. A bobber stop placed on the line halts line movement and suspends the bait at the preferred depth. Both bobber types come in many styles, colors and sizes.
Can I use lures for pier fishing?
Bucktail jigs and soft-bodied leadhead jigs.
Overall these are probably the best saltwater lures for pier fishing. They cast easily, and their single hooks result in less netting and unhooking trouble.
Can I use fish finder from pier?
Standard portable fish finders work great for ice fishing or hanging over the edge of a dock or small boat. But for bank fishing, you need a transducer you can cast out away from shore. I have a castable transducer that I can routinely cast about 50-feet from shore.
Can I use a surf rod on a pier?
Registered. Use your surf rods, they will be fine on the pier.