Hello,
I am planning a day trip to San Diego in a couple of weeks to go pier fishing. I plan on going to Ocean Beach pier. This will be my first time fishing. I got a vintage Shakespeare sea wonder reel from goodwill that I cleaned up and then ordered an ugly stik bigwater pole to go with it. I'm still working on getting my gear. I ordered the pier adventure kit from Senko Skipper and some other random items from Amazon (pliers, crab lures, standing jig head, line, shrimp lures, pier cart). I'd welcome any advice.
Are you accustomed to using vintage gear? I fish them on ocasion and vintage gear can be very different to use compared to more modern gear. The main thing is getting your baits out there. On some vintage reels you almost have to use an upside down fly casting like technique, under the pier, to cast light stuff.
Another thing, if you are using some sort of braid, use a floural leader.
Check out Squidco if you have time and you need bait n supplies or more advice. It's not too far from OB.
Ob? Hmm. What do you want to fish for?
Mackerel: Surface to where you cant see the bait. Middle to near end of the pier.
Jigs/lures: 5/8 krocodile spoon, smaller than 1oz megabait lure, sabikis/fly rigs.
Bait: strips of squid, cut mackerel or other cut fish.
Rig: 1/4 or lighter splitshot with a single hook at the end.
Bonito: Surface (not sure if they're around yet) End of the pier. Limit 5 per person per container less than 24" tail fork length.
Jigs/lures: 5/8 krocodile spoon, 1oz megabait lure
Bait: preferred live anchovies or sardines. Sometimes they will hit whole small dead bait on surface.
Rig: 1/4 or lighter splitshot with a single hook at the end.
Calico bass: bottom all around pier. 14" minimum nose to tip of the tail.
Jigs/lures: at least 1/2 oz jighead with a plastic grub or swim bait attached.
Bait: live or dead fish, cut or whole baits. They usually dont care.
Rig: c-rig
California Halibut: bottom all around pier. 22" minimum nose to tip of the tail. My need to fish heavy line or have a crab net to get on pier.
Jigs/lures: at least 1/2 oz jighead with a plastic grub or swim bait attached.
Bait: preferred live smelt, sardines, and anchovies.
Rig: c-rig
Queen fish: mid water
Jigs/lures: sabikis/fly rigs.
Bait: they love cut anchovies. Other cut bait works but not as well
Yellowfin croaker: mid to bottom
Jigs/lures: sabikis/fly rigs, caught larger ones on small jigs.
Bait: seem to eat most any bait that fits in their mouth.
White croaker: mid to bottom
Jigs/lures: sabikis/fly rigs
Bait: seem to eat most baits that fit in their mouth.
Rock wrasse: bottom all around rocky spots near end.
Rig: dropper loop
Bait: Ghost shrimp, worms, mussels
Sheephead: bottom. best spot far left at end of the pier. 12" minimum length.
Rig: use dropper loop
Bait: Ghost shrimp, worms, mussels. Sometimes squid.
I hope this helps. There are a few other fish to be had but I have to go do some errends.