A pier is a marine structure that rises above a water body and is supported by pillars and columns. One of the many benefits of piers is that they provide people with access to offshore areas, allowing them to dock their boats. Apart from that, anglers also utilize them for fishing activities.
In case you don’t know, pier fishing offers some of the best experiences for anglers. One of its benefits is that it saves fishers the stress of worrying about the expense of a boat. With piers, you can rest assured that no brutal weather conditions will cancel your trip. But here’s a quick question; what is the best approach to land a fish from a fishing pier?
Pier fishing is way different from fishing on a boat. It requires that fish come by. For this reason, you need to make your findings to know the best time to fish on a pier. Besides, your positioning also matters if you want to land a fish.
If you are interested in learning how to fish, pier fishing is one of the best ways to get started. In many areas, this method doesn’t require purchasing a fishing license. Also, you’ll get to learn a lot of things, including the optimum conditions on the pier and what makes a good day of fishing.
In the rest of this post, we’ll look at everything you need to know about pier fishing. Of course, that will include sharing with you some of the best equipment and tips on how you can land fish.
Tips On How You Can Land Fish From A Pier
1- Pier locations
Location is essential if you’re planning to land fish from a pier. Interestingly, there are several pier locations out there where you can fish.
To identify the best locations around you, you need to do a little bit of research. In addition to that, you’ll also need to pay closer attention to your environment. Of course, this requires that you keep watch of the most famous pier locations, and whenever you see many anglers out at one point, that means the site is okay.
Furthermore, it’s also worth knowing that today’s best pier spot might end up being the worst location tomorrow. That’s possible because tides change a lot, and fish don’t always stay around in the same place for an extended period. Since that’s the case, you need to constantly speak with veteran coastal anglers and other people to get more information regarding the best spot to fish.
2- Knowing when to fish from a pier
As earlier mentioned, one of the most important things to consider if you want to land fish from a pier is “timing.” You need to understand that timing is everything. Irrespective of the skills you have and the gear you’re using, if you throw the line inside the water at the wrong time, you’ll end up not landing any fish.
That said, here’s a quick question; when is the best time to go pier fishing? Depending on your location and climate, the best time to fish on a pier is either early in the morning, during sundown, or when the sun is out.
If you’re in a warmer location, the best time to land fish from a pier is during sundown or very early in the morning. That’s so because moving tides during these periods tend to attract many baitfish to the area.
However, if you reside in a cold region or plan to go pier fishing during the winter seasons, you need to understand that sundowns and early in the morning aren’t good timing. According to veterans, the best period to go pier fishing during winter is when the sun is scorching.
Furthermore, you also need to understand that the fish in the pier regions is another factor that you need to put into consideration. Some of these aquatic creatures are very active during sundown, while others are during the day.
The bottom line is you need to understand your environment and the nature of the fish in the area. According to experts, heat and light also have a way of attracting fish. That said, in case you ever find an opportunity to go fishing during sundown, ensure you go with your lighting.
3- Where is the best position
As a beginner, if you’re pretty serious about landing a big fish from a pier, the best place to position yourself is at the end of the pier, which in most cases is where the water is most profound.
If you don’t know, deeper waters have a way of attracting big fish. By positioning yourself at the end of the pier, all you need is to throw your line inside the water and wait for some time to land fish.
Furthermore, you can also position yourself on the pier closer to the shore – this position also attracts bigger fish. If there exis underwater structures, including drop-offs and rock formations, you can always stay around these places.
4- Which bait to choose?
I’ve heard a couple of times that spending a lot of money on bait can guarantee you fish from a pier. While that’s partially true, it’s worth knowing that your choice of the right bait depends on two different factors; the location where you’re fishing and the type of fish you’re planning to catch.
That said, before going ahead to choose a bait, ensure you take the time to learn about the fishing pier and use the type that is more appropriate to the kind of fishing you’re interested in catching.
5- Rules & regulation
So far, I’ve talked about the best location, how to position yourself, and how to choose the best baits. Now, let’s talk about the most crucial part of pier fishing – the rules and regulations.
Earlier in this post, I mentioned that most piers would allow you to fish freely, even without a fishing license. While that’s true, it’ll be best for you to check and know the rules and regulations of the piers you’re interested in visiting.
Some of the things you need to find out include whether or not the fishing pier requires an entrance fee. Also, check if there are any restrictions on fishing gear, especially the number of rods you can place inside the water at a time. Furthermore, ensure you check whether you need to find out the opening and closing periods of the fishing site.
What Equipment Do You Need To Land Fish From A Pier?
You need to understand that before going ahead to choose a fishing kit, you need to first decide on the type of fish you’re trying to catch. For instance, if you’re going for smaller catches, there wouldn’t be any point in using a heavy fish outfit. Instead, a lighter setup is okay.
If you’re interested in dropping bait down, the best equipment to use is the stout, short rod of about 7 feet. As far as your line is concerned, the best setup should be around 20 – 40 pounds. That said, let’s have a quick look at some of the equipment that you need to land fish from a pier.
1- Drop net
One of the most essential pieces of equipment you’ll need to land fish from a pier is the Drop net. They offer a host of benefits, including being utilized to pack fish from the waters to the deck.
In case you’re interested in getting a drop net online, one of the best-selling products that you can trust is the RESTCLOUD Fishing Landing Net. The fishing equipment comes with a telescoping pole handle, which can extend from 18 inches to 36 inches and even up to 48 inches in total.
Furthermore, it also comes with sturdy netting for better results. That said, you can check here to read more about the product and how you can order it.
2- Fishing bucket
A fishing bucket is as important as a drop net. That’s so because you’ll need it to keep the fish you end up catching from the pier. If you’re considering getting one of the best products online, I recommend that you go for MR LION Fishing Bucket.
The foldable fishing bucket offers several unique features, including being designed with a thick, impact-resistant EVA eco-friendly material. As far as the bucket’s design is concerned, it comes with a filter mesh and a high-quality zipper. That’s not all; the equipment also comes with an ergonomic handle, making it comfortable for you to transport it from one place to another. You can check here for more information regarding the product’s offerings.
3- Pliers
There’s no denying that pliers are essential equipment when it comes to pier fishing. In case you don’t know, the primary benefit of this tool is to help remove your fishing hook from a fish’s mouth. That said, one of the best-selling fishing pliers out there is the ZACX Fishing Pliers and Lip Gripper.
You can check here to get information regarding the product and its offerings.
4- Other equipment
Apart from drop nets, fishing buckets, and pliers, other essential tools needed to land fish from a pier include a filleting knife and picnic chair.
A filleting knife, such as SZCO Supplies 12 Supplies Fish Fillet Sport Knife, will be handy to clean and fillet the fish on the pier before heading home.
Since you’ll have to wait for a little while for the fish to start biting the bait, you might want to relax using a picnic chair. One of the best products you can trust is the Leadallway Folding Camping Chair. You can check here for more information regarding the product’s offerings.