Some Basic Tips

For this post, I’d like to share with you some of the tips I’ve gained through fishing. Again, we are not fishing experts by any stretch. We simply love going to the ocean and catching some good fish. Catching our own dinner is so much fun, and considering how pricey seafood can be, it’s a good bargain. I hope that the tips here will help you to get the most of your fishing trip, especially if you are a beginner and not particularly serious about becoming an expert.

1. Be prepared. This should be a given. Make sure your fishing line is not damaged. Look for signs of wear and tear on the line, especially fraying. You do not want to lose your big fish from a snapped line. If possible, you should sharpen your fishing hooks with a grinding stone. Sharp hook means you are more likely to hook the fish. To keep your catch fresh, be sure you have enough ice the cooler. We even packed a small Ziploc bag full of coarse salt to prevent spoilage. Some people use pier cart to haul all their equipment and supplies. We don’t have one, but we do use a cooler with wheels so we can carry everything to the pier easily. In the summer, sunscreen and wide-brimmed hat are essential to prevent painful sunburn. Always bring water bottles and snacks to the pier, because price at the canteen can be a little bit high.

2. It’s easy to think that the end of the pier would offer the best fishing. It is not always so. Sometimes, you will have better luck at the shallow end of the pier. Certain species prefer the surf zone where there is an abundance of floating crustaceans to eat. One easy guideline is to see where everybody else is fishing at the pier. You will always see a group of people at the end who are going for big fish, but there will be plenty of people trying their luck at the shallow end as well.

3. If possible, it’s better to use the restroom before going to the pier. I’ve found the public restrooms at most fishing pier to be of poor maintenance.

4. If possible, eat your meal before going to the pier. When the fish starts biting, you may not want to leave the pier to grab a burger or two. It’s one less thing to worry about.

5. Above all, safety is the most important thing. Do not leave your gears around carelessly, because you or someone might get injured on a fishing hook. When someone is about to cast, keep enough distance so you do not get hooked on the razor sharp hook of the lure. By the same token, be sure there is no one behind your back when you are about to cast.

There are many more tips, but here are some of the essentials. Please visit next time, and I’ll share with you some more.

The gentleman in the picture is hauling his gear on a pier cart. If we ever move to Florida, we'll definitely buy one.