Report from Pierfishing.com:
First, I want to thank you guys for all the helpful advice you offered this week. Your comments and the PFIC book really gave us a great headstart.
In a nutshell... My dad and I hit Balboa Pier around 8am and setup shop on the right side just before Ruby's. On my dad's first cast with live bait (smelt, I think) he caught a halibut and lucky for us it was a keeper at 22 inches! I wish we could say we knew what we were doing, but... The rest of the morning was slow with the exception of a snagged crab.
There were lots of friendly folks with a nice mix of fishermen and strollers. We learned a lot and had a great day!
The good folks at Pierfishing.com really set us up for success on our first day at the pier. I had no idea what rig to use, how to catch live bait, how far to "cast" from the pier (and that one doesn't necessarily cast off piers anyway), etc. Sheesh, I didn't even know any knots beyond the basic overhand knot. Leaders, swivels, sinkers, hooks, test... It's kinda crazy how much there is to consider for something as "simple" as fishing, huh?
BTW, here's a link to Ken's book Pier Fishing in California. It's a fantastic resource for beginners and a very nice read on the history of California's piers.
My dad's halibut
Spider crab
Me and my dad
