The key to successful pier fishing can be summed up in the slightly off-color management saying: proper prior planning prevents piss poor performance—the seven Ps. The anglers who are most successful on California's piers are people who understand the demands of the pier they are fishing, and they meet those demands. They match their tackle, techniques, and bait, to what they know will work. They know what works based upon the knowledge they have gained from their own experiences and the lessons they have learned from other, perhaps more knowledgeable anglers. Over time, the habitués of the piers develop their fishing I.Q. (intelligence quota) and the intuition or “feel” that comes to an experienced angler.
10 Rules for Pier Fishing
(1) The first rule to remember in the “Pier Fishing Analects,” the most basic rule for pier fishing, is that fishing close to a pier (rather than engaging in a casting contest) usually provides the best results.
If in doubt, ask yourself the following question: why do so many boat anglers try to fish structure areas like piers? Because they realize fish are attracted to structure because of the food and protection offered by that structure.
But do not stop there! Ask yourself and then determine the answers to the following questions:
• What is the base under the pier, is it a sandy beach pier or is it located over mud or rock?
• If it is sand, are there rocks nearby or scattered under the pier?
• Were any artificial reefs constructed around the pier—and if so, where are they located?
• Is the pier short, offering only an inshore surf area fishery, or is it long, offering access to deeper water and more pelagic species?
(2) The second rule is that sandy areas, especially where there are also some rocks or reefs nearby, offer a better chance of catching fish. Rocky areas offer a better chance of catching large fish. Piers that are long and poke out into fairly deep water often offer access to pelagic species (which can mean both quantity and quality) and the largest resident species.
Critical: Understanding Water Temperatures, Salinity, Oxygen Levels, Water Visibility and Light, Eyesight & Smell, Sense of Taste, Tides
(3) A third rule is to always look at the pilings. If there is no discernible growth of mussels or barnacles on the pilings, there is less likelihood of good fishing (an exception would be on piers and pilings found in bays that get a sizeable influx of freshwater.
(4) A fourth rule is to fish the early morning or early evening hours if possible.
(5) The fifth rule is to always use high quality fresh or frozen bait if you are going to use bait
(6) The sixth rule is to keep records, study the tides and currents, and match the catches of your fish with this data. You will soon figure out the peak fishing times.
(7) Rule number seven is to be mobile, move around the pier.
A striped bass from the Capitola Wharf
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The eighth rule to remember is that when you have better than average high tides, a good flow of water, and either or both of these occur in the early morning hours—go fishing!
A ninth rule might be that if a pier is surrounded with red water, pretend it is a stop sign, and go no further.
The tenth and final rule is that there are no guarantees in fishing. Tides, tidal flow, happy faces in the tide book, water temperature, and a good throw of the dice (or oracle bones) may all indicate that you should go fishing—yet you may fail to catch a fish.
Good Signs and Bad Signs
Often before you go out on a pier you can tell if the signs are good or bad and if they're bad you might want to consider going to another pier.
• Good signs include lots of anglers on the pier and birds in the water.
• Bad signs include no fishermen, no birds, red water and high wind.
James Liu and a bonito from the Cabrillo Mole in Avalon
10 Rules for Pier Fishing
(1) The first rule to remember in the “Pier Fishing Analects,” the most basic rule for pier fishing, is that fishing close to a pier (rather than engaging in a casting contest) usually provides the best results.
If in doubt, ask yourself the following question: why do so many boat anglers try to fish structure areas like piers? Because they realize fish are attracted to structure because of the food and protection offered by that structure.
But do not stop there! Ask yourself and then determine the answers to the following questions:
• What is the base under the pier, is it a sandy beach pier or is it located over mud or rock?
• If it is sand, are there rocks nearby or scattered under the pier?
• Were any artificial reefs constructed around the pier—and if so, where are they located?
• Is the pier short, offering only an inshore surf area fishery, or is it long, offering access to deeper water and more pelagic species?
A halibut caught from the Capitola Wharf
(2) The second rule is that sandy areas, especially where there are also some rocks or reefs nearby, offer a better chance of catching fish. Rocky areas offer a better chance of catching large fish. Piers that are long and poke out into fairly deep water often offer access to pelagic species (which can mean both quantity and quality) and the largest resident species.
Critical: Understanding Water Temperatures, Salinity, Oxygen Levels, Water Visibility and Light, Eyesight & Smell, Sense of Taste, Tides
(3) A third rule is to always look at the pilings. If there is no discernible growth of mussels or barnacles on the pilings, there is less likelihood of good fishing (an exception would be on piers and pilings found in bays that get a sizeable influx of freshwater.
(4) A fourth rule is to fish the early morning or early evening hours if possible.
A cabezon from the now closed Redondo Beach Sportfishing Pier
(5) The fifth rule is to always use high quality fresh or frozen bait if you are going to use bait
(6) The sixth rule is to keep records, study the tides and currents, and match the catches of your fish with this data. You will soon figure out the peak fishing times.
(7) Rule number seven is to be mobile, move around the pier.
A striped bass from the Capitola Wharf
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A ninth rule might be that if a pier is surrounded with red water, pretend it is a stop sign, and go no further.
The tenth and final rule is that there are no guarantees in fishing. Tides, tidal flow, happy faces in the tide book, water temperature, and a good throw of the dice (or oracle bones) may all indicate that you should go fishing—yet you may fail to catch a fish.
A kelp bass from Balboa
Good Signs and Bad Signs
Often before you go out on a pier you can tell if the signs are good or bad and if they're bad you might want to consider going to another pier.
• Good signs include lots of anglers on the pier and birds in the water.
• Bad signs include no fishermen, no birds, red water and high wind.