Getting Started
Pier fishing is the cheapest way into saltwater angling — no boat, no guide, no launch fee. But a pier is an exposed place to spend six hours, and the difference between a good day and a miserable one is usually something small that stayed at home.
A drop net or pier gaff. On a high pier you cannot simply lift a decent fish out of the water — the line will part or the hook will pull under its own weight. Some piers keep communal nets; plenty do not. If you hook something worth landing and have no way to bring it up, you will lose it.
There is no shade on a pier. Long-sleeved sun shirt, wide brim, polarised sunglasses (they also let you see fish in the water), high-SPF sunscreen reapplied through the day, and more water than you think you need. A rag or small towel, and a bucket, will keep you and your gear tolerable.
Piers get crowded and lines cross. Cast straight out from your spot rather than across your neighbours; give people room when they are fighting a fish and be ready to bring your line in if asked; keep the walkway clear; and take your line, leader and bait packaging home — discarded monofilament kills pelicans and turtles. If you are new, say so — pier regulars are generally happy to point out where the fish are holding.