Need some help...

Ken Jones

Administrator
Staff member
#1
I have been asked to give some thoughts on a pier that is going to be rebuilt (I can't say the pier). What are the most important things you like to see on a pier? Besides the fishing, what makes one pier better than others?
 

MisterT

Well-Known Member
#2
From a fishing perspective the top railings shouldn't be too high to accommodate short anglers. I like flat top railings as well. I dislike the railings at Seal Beach as the rods cannot be securely placed. Clean and close proximity restrooms are nice to have too. Good lighting (cool lighting not the warm lighting) on the pier at night is another. Sinks and cleaning stations.
 
#3
No garbage. No graffiti. No puke. No piss. No idiots. No poachers. That would be ideal, unfortunately, such a pier doesn't exist. It's the complete opposite here in Northern California. Is it that hard to carry around a pee cup? Really "pisses" me off when someone pisses on the pier when the restrooms are about 50 yards away. I'm calling you out, Hank. I guess you enjoy your fish with a hint of piss. He definitely looks like the type who would.
 
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TheFrood

Well-Known Member
#5
Parking and Accessibility. Convenient utilities related to fishing (rod holders or railing that is designed to easily have rod holders mounted, cutting boards, restroom and sanitation facilities, trash cans, lighting, sinks/water/cleaning stations). Cleaning stations, sinks, and water for rinsing things down is the 2nd most important thing I think. The availability of water at the Shelter Island pier in San Diego makes it one of the most user-friendly piers I think.

Oh, and 24 hours of operation! Sometimes you need somewhere to go for that 2:45 AM urge to drop a line...

Did I mention parking?
Oh, and parking... :)
 
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moonshine

Well-Known Member
#6
Adequate seating along with what's been already mentioned. I must be getting older, I like a bench with a backrest.
And those plastic coated wire mesh ones are probably good for cleaning, but not so comfortable for me.
Maybe a "No Drones" sign 😆
 

MisterT

Well-Known Member
#7
Seating areas are good too.

Parking is very important.

Enforcement of rules preventing swimmers and surfers from getting close to the pier.
 

Mahigeer

Senior Member
#8
The list above is what I would say with most important to me due to my condition, is availability of clean and close bathrooms. One on the foot and one on the end. I would be willing to pay to use it, if it kept clean and with supplies.

Parking is also important. Free and close. One can dream, No?
 

Ken Jones

Administrator
Staff member
#9
I was thinking of the old Redondo piers today and some of them included built in shade coverings. That would be nice at times when it's a little too hot and sunny—if they could be built and not vandalized by knuckleheads. Several piers in the Bay Area have wind breaks but far too often they are used as places to secretly take a leak—or worse.
 

moonshine

Well-Known Member
#10
It should be kid friendly for the sake of the future of the hobby.
I remember when I was a kid, the old Redondo short pier had a tackle store with a bait window. You'd drop a ticket on the counter and scoop up an anchovy. During the bonito runs it was more fun than Disneyland.
If that kind of family-friendly environment could be recreated, it would be great.
 

Brock Norris

Well-Known Member
#11
I think the railing at seal beach was not designed for fisherman ,in fact i don't think that pier is fishing friendly anymore . At belmont people use the flat top railing as a bait cutting board making a mess which leads to complaints and railing like the seal beach pier. Maybe make the rails slanted so you can still rest your rods against it ,buy also discourages bait cutting .clean restrooms for sure ,cleaning stations and benches and lots of maintenance . I read Newport pier ,Huntington ,and sealbeachpiers are planning upgrades so will see .
 

Ken Jones

Administrator
Staff member
#12
A few ideas in regard to bait cutting boards.

2022.5.15_Oceanside.Pier.1_Names copy.jpg

A new bait cutting board at the Oceanside Pier

Newport.Pier_2017_Bait.Board1 copy.jpg

Cutting board at the Newport Pier

2022.5.13_OB.Pier.4_Bait.cutting.board copy.jpg

It's hard to see in this picture but the railing at the Ocean Beach Pier has a top railing and then underneath a second board which can be used to cut bait (altrhough many still cut on the top railing). Perhaps it it was marked for bait cutting more people would use the bottom board?

 

Red Fish

Senior Member
#13
No garbage. No graffiti. No puke. No piss. No idiots. No poachers. That would be ideal, unfortunately, such a pier doesn't exist. It's the complete opposite here in Northern California. Is it that hard to carry around a pee cup? Really "pisses" me off when someone pisses on the pier when the restrooms are about 50 yards away. I'm calling you out, Hank. I guess you enjoy your fish with a hint of piss. He definitely looks like the type who would.
I wouldn’t say that Bill, Paradise Pier Malibu, California and a few others. Paradise Pier Tiburon, California and McNears, San Rafael, California used to be like that.
That is why some shore fishermen will never fish a public pier.
 

Brock Norris

Well-Known Member
#15
I wish they could all be wood piers ,something about them i like. In a perfect world people would clean up the cutting boards for the next person ,but as Mahigeer said one could dream yes;;
 

MisterT

Well-Known Member
#17
Shade is a plus. I went to Crystal Pier and suffered dehydration.

Going to Crystal Pier reminded me of a few things to add.

At Crystal Pier I do not like how part of the pier (wooden floor) extends past the rails. Additionally I do not like how piers can have wooden sections midway below the pier. In both these situations the lures / rigs can easily snag against the structure. (Also a reminder of Seal Beach Pier.)
 
#18
If memory serves, I remember having a difficult time pulling the hoop net at Crystal pier. Due to overextending the wood flooring.

Must have been a struggle to pull those big yellows over the railing.


Parking is a big issue there too.
 

Rusty

Active Member
#19
Everything everyone else has already said! 😆 More family friendly amenities would be nice.
Plus, maybe find a way to keep trash from blowing into the ocean- add a barrier to the bottom of the railing?