Equipment for Florida pier and shore fishing?

Question

I plan to go fishing the east coast peirs and shores some time and i would like to know what kind of pole, bait, hooks, etc. I would need. I fish freshwater alot but been deep sea once where I rented the needs. Also would i need a license and what is a recomended distance off a peir?

Answer 1

As a Navy man for 23 yrs. Fishing off a pier or shore in salt water I recommend bottom fishing using a medium wieght to hit bottom and a rig about 10 inches above that with herring or squid as a bait, usually great for snapper and keeps barra cuda off your rig, dont use anything shiny.

Answer 2

Florida has many different piers in different areas.

What will work in North Florida/
East Coast may not be optimum in South Fl/West Coast.

However, MOST people generally fish piers with a "bottom/sinker slide rig".

Here's the recipe: Pyramid sinker in 1-3 OZ, sinker slide, 10-12 LB 15-18" fluorocarbon leader(Berkely "Vanish" works fine.), black swivel, and a 1-1/0 circle hook.

Don't buy a pre-made "X-mas tree" rig! They use heavier dacron material and will "spook" the fish. It's best to make your own, (unless you want to spend your day catching trash fish).

Baits for bottom-fishing would include: Dead shrimp, Cut-mullet/fish, Squid, Fiddler crabs, and Sand Fleas. If you intend to bottom-fish bring AT LEAST 2 different types of bait, (squid & fresh dead Shrimp).

When you are fishing on a pier there are 2 different areas to fish.

The surf zone: Whiting, Pompano, Sail-cats, Croaker, Angels, Red-fish, Drum, Sand Trout, Sea-Trout, Flounder, Mangrove Snapper, Snook, Sheephead, Spanish Macks, Etc are some of the things you COULD catch in this zone. Generally, what you WILL catch the most of are Whiting, Croaker, Sail-Cats, Saltwater cats(trash fish), small M-Snapper, and more saltwater Cats (lol)!

The offshore Zone: You COULD catch everything in the "surf-zone" including King-fish, Tarpon, Blues, Sharks, and more small sharks (lol).
Generally, the guys at the end of FLA piers are fishing for Kings or larger fish. Unless, you are familiar with this type of "offshore pier fishing" , (and you have the gear for it), I would stick to the surf zone-middle zone areas.

To be honest, I don't think much of pier fishing. It is too "hit or miss" for my taste. You can sit on a smelly, FLA pier all day and catch nothing! And although you CAN meet some interesting/nice folk at a pier, most of the time your "hob-nobbing" with idiots, drunks, and tourist's. I have lost more NICE fish from piers because the 25 people on either side of me didn't have the courtesy or "sense" to reel their line in when someone has a good fish on! If you like meeting some "characters" and catching some "rays" then pier fishing might be your idea of a good time.

However, I suggest you fish a jetty or an inlet, (or the ICW). Your odds on catching something decent go UP about 50% and because your not in a surf-zone you can "float" live shrimp or live mud-minnows. Live bait is the choice for Reds, Trout, Snook, Flounder, Etc. Most of your "gamefish" will mostly ONLY take live bait.

Top rigs for Saltwater Flats: 1/4-1/2 OZ Jig and live shrimp. Hook through end of tail & jig on bottom.

1/4-1/2 OZ Jig and mud-minnow. (Red or Green jighead color). Hook through lips and jig on bottom.

Berkley "Gulp" Swimming Mullet & 1/4-1/2 OZ Jig.

Berkley 4" curly-tailed PowerGrub's in chartruese, gold, and new penny on a 1/4 OZ Jig.


Hope this helps ya? Peruse my "starred questions" for further info.