The book, hopefully ready by August, has two chapters of stories given by pier rats here on PFIC. This is one of my favorites even though some of the stories do not concern piers:
Pier Rat Name — Mike C
Personal Information: Real name Mike. Years Fishing: 28 years. First Memories of Fishing: Fishing and crabbing at Muni Pier with my Father and Grandfather, and I caught my first Striped Bass that day. Favorite Piers: To tell the truth, I'm more of a rip rap rat, but as piers go, they would have to be Muni because it was my first trip. Then Berkeley pier, because I really cut my teeth there and still enjoy the Halibut fishing there. Favorite Fish: This is an easy one. The three S’s in order: Stripers, Salmon, and Sturgeon. On the other end of the spectrum, I’m afraid I don’t share the love for Sharks and Rays that many others on the board do. Unless I am bored out of my wits, I view them as no better than croakers in terms of being a nuisance and a needless stress on my gear. Most Memorable Fishing Trips: Fished for Stripers one morning at KDIA, no bite. Decided to move to Bay Farm Island, left my pile worm on my 2/0 hook for the drive over. When I arrived, I cast my line in with the shriveled up pile worm as far as I could. Propped my pole against a washed-up log. I helped my daughter down the rip rap and went back to pick up my pole, which was on its side. As soon as I picked it up, the reel began to scream. About 20 minutes later, I had a 51-inch Sturgeon, on a 2/0 hook, rigged to a surf leader and baited with a very dead, very dried out pile worm. Also, night fishing at the Rio Vista Pier, ran out of bait and started using cold Pepperoni Pizza chunks. Couldn't keep the whisker fish off the lines. Words of Wisdom for Pier Rats: (1) Never stop learning. (2) Remember, fishermen are some of the best storytellers in the world, so don’t take everything they say on faith alone. (3) Next time you are reluctant to share good fishing information, remember a little over 2,000 years ago, a man named Jesus from Nazareth recruited his first disciples by telling them to cast their nets on the other side. His teachings, for good or bad, continue to influence the world today, and it all began with a fishing tip.
Pier Rat Name — Mike C
Personal Information: Real name Mike. Years Fishing: 28 years. First Memories of Fishing: Fishing and crabbing at Muni Pier with my Father and Grandfather, and I caught my first Striped Bass that day. Favorite Piers: To tell the truth, I'm more of a rip rap rat, but as piers go, they would have to be Muni because it was my first trip. Then Berkeley pier, because I really cut my teeth there and still enjoy the Halibut fishing there. Favorite Fish: This is an easy one. The three S’s in order: Stripers, Salmon, and Sturgeon. On the other end of the spectrum, I’m afraid I don’t share the love for Sharks and Rays that many others on the board do. Unless I am bored out of my wits, I view them as no better than croakers in terms of being a nuisance and a needless stress on my gear. Most Memorable Fishing Trips: Fished for Stripers one morning at KDIA, no bite. Decided to move to Bay Farm Island, left my pile worm on my 2/0 hook for the drive over. When I arrived, I cast my line in with the shriveled up pile worm as far as I could. Propped my pole against a washed-up log. I helped my daughter down the rip rap and went back to pick up my pole, which was on its side. As soon as I picked it up, the reel began to scream. About 20 minutes later, I had a 51-inch Sturgeon, on a 2/0 hook, rigged to a surf leader and baited with a very dead, very dried out pile worm. Also, night fishing at the Rio Vista Pier, ran out of bait and started using cold Pepperoni Pizza chunks. Couldn't keep the whisker fish off the lines. Words of Wisdom for Pier Rats: (1) Never stop learning. (2) Remember, fishermen are some of the best storytellers in the world, so don’t take everything they say on faith alone. (3) Next time you are reluctant to share good fishing information, remember a little over 2,000 years ago, a man named Jesus from Nazareth recruited his first disciples by telling them to cast their nets on the other side. His teachings, for good or bad, continue to influence the world today, and it all began with a fishing tip.
