Pensacola Fishing Forum / Piers and Bridges / Piers and Bridges - General Q & A

Need Rig Advice

SemperFi-sh — Sat, 05 Jul 2008 15:13:33 GMT

I've got a Shimano 4500B Baitrunner reel. I'm looking to "freeline/liveline" a hardtail or other bait fish in hopes of hooking up with a spanish or king mackerel. My problem is that I'm not familiar with rigging this setup. I want the baitfish to be able to swim freely. I know there is a way to rig this as I have seen, somewhere, how to do it. Anyways, all help will be greatly appreciated. Also, what's the SOP (standard operating procedure) for getting a big fish up to the pier. Just reel it up? Or are there like extendable gaffs or something?

Dave

pier tomorrow? I wanna meet some ppl

bama-peach — Mon, 30 Jun 2008 21:29:15 GMT

goin tomorrow early.. hopin to get some kings...

landed a big spanish today and missed about 20 kings

flipper is a pain in my *%#&

i'l be in a shimano visor.. introduece yourself

Recommend a gaff for me

monsterflat — Sat, 28 Jun 2008 16:27:31 GMT

I need a recommendation for gaffing fish from the pier please. I guess the flying gaff is a better choice than one of those big cumbersome nets right? Let me know what you think!!

Gulf Shores Pier is making progress BIG TIME.

Garbo — Wed, 02 Jul 2008 19:36:10 GMT

I walk on the beach in the morning quite frequently and I noticed the progress of the Gulf Shores Pier this morning. Dang. They are bringing it. I can't get over how fast they are adding length. Tomorrow I will count the sections (I should have this morning) but they are moving very quick.

Anyone else seen it?

Middle of July

joelarbear — Mon, 30 Jun 2008 20:21:36 GMT

How do the tides look for the middle of July? I will be in Orange Beach July 12 - 19. What does it look like for inshore and pier fishing that week? I'm hoping, if the tides cooperate, to come fish the Pensacola pier some time(s) that week.

okaloosa - what to expect???

monsterflat — Sat, 28 Jun 2008 17:09:00 GMT

I will be down at the okaloosa pier in mid-August. What fish will be in at that time? I know the spanish are out but I think kings are in that time of year. Is shark fishing at night a good idea? Let me know if you have some suggestions. Also, can you recommend any other good piers within about 5 miles? Thanks for the help y'all.

Free fishing trip to Pensacola Bay Bridge - This Friday Morning - 5:30 am

BananaTom — Thu, 26 Jun 2008 08:10:16 GMT

I would like to invite 10 people to fish the Pensacola Bay Bridge aboard my 37' Gibson Houseboat, Playin' House.

We will leave Bahia Mar Marina at 6:00 am sharp, Friday, 06/27/2008, by reservation only. We will return by noon. Bring your fishing gear, your ice chest, and your provisions. I will provide the vessel and the fuel. We will fish the East side of the bridge.

A full and complete release will be required of all participants. My desire is to provide boat fishing to those who do not have a boat, and who wish to catch fish at the bridge.

To reserve your spot, please call 850-455-4223, Pensacola Houseboat Vacations, Inc.

Why all the rods

ironman172 — Sun, 11 May 2008 07:29:02 GMT

Everytime I'm at the pier, there are rods leaning along the rail....That really doesn't bother me till I decide to fish there, then someone(pier regular) comes and tells me thats there spot....of coarse that doesn't work (how can it be your spot when I'm standing there?)

What really pisses me off the most.....in the heat of battle with a nice fish(cobe,king)these rods don't move by there owners, sometimes the one in battle has to try and step over them when fighting the fish,or are moved by other good people,helping in the task of landing a fish.

I will lean my rod along the rail, but I will be standing by it, I have watched for a few minutes before I go and fish a spot with a rod leaning... just incase someone went to there cooler for something to drink or bait(what ever)

It seems the whole end is this way.I keep my rods in the holder of the pier cart when not in use....When a fish is seen those spots fill up quick and your rod doesn't save a thing!!!

Don't ask me to move!!! stay in your spot if you want it....or just move down alittle

if you would not like to deal with any of this fighting a fish, then don't do it yourself, and if rods along the rail save a spot..... I will bring all of mine and have to whole end to myself.....atleast the east side around the corner( I would look like the guy on the tv commercial fishing for everything)

I'm not trying to start a big thread here, or pissing match.....just have some common courtesy with your fellow angler(googan too!!!!ME) ...I will be the one with the zebco 33, or snoopy rod...:doh

what the hell

stevierayv67 — Fri, 06 Jun 2008 15:27:10 GMT

was fishing on the pier last night finally got in to some bluefish after about an hour of casting. standing in the same spot for about an hour took my second blue put it in the cooler.10 feet away at the most. here comes some woman who cant speak any english casting all over the top of me and the guy next to me then she brings her kid over and she starts casting over us. i asked her to move down because she was crossing everybody up. duh just a stupid look and keeps casting had no clue about where the wind would blow the line or anything. i simply sat down and had a beer because she was really pissing me off. being that i just moved here three weeks ago dont want to piss any locals off. i try to be courteous to others but damn she pissed me off. what is protocol in these situations.:banghead:shedevil

stevieray

Anybody know if there is a record for Blue Crab?

jaster — Sat, 07 Jun 2008 22:14:07 GMT

My boy was in the lead this afternoon in the fishing rodeo, for blue crab. Man is it a fat one medium body with HEAVY claws, Tommy's scale says .85, my fruit scale says 13 oz. Any info would be appreciated, biggest he has caught, especialy with a rod and reel!

Hey Konz

bullmaster — Fri, 20 Jun 2008 23:11:57 GMT

I am finally going to be in paradise tommorrow about noon and was wondering if you might be able to hook me up some some of the local sharkmen.I will be fishing day and night and will probably need to take a vacation after I finish this one.If you can up a white boy I would really appreciate it.My truck is so loaded down with stuff I look like the Beverely Hillbillies when they moved from the mountains to California.If you can hook me up please call me at 409 651 9140 or 409 651 5933.Alan

King Fishing???

polebenda — Wed, 18 Jun 2008 21:48:16 GMT

Could you guys tell me what kind of set up I will need to start king fishing? What type of rod and what type of reel? Mono or braided? Please let me know. I would like to hear some opinions I seriously want to try catching some kings. Thanks

Who is Flipper?

bullmaster — Fri, 06 Jun 2008 12:07:28 GMT

I have been on several forums and this guys name keeps popping up.It sounds to me like he is an ass because of the remarks people have made about him.Is he one of those that thinks he owns whatever pier he is on?

Navarre Beach Pier Faces Environmental Delays

johnsonbeachbum — Fri, 06 Jun 2008 09:08:24 GMT

News: Navarre Beach Pier Faces Environmental Delays

by Duwayne Escobedo

June 5th, 2008

Santa Rosa County applied for environmental permits to rebuild the Navarre Beach pier in October 2007 and hoped to complete the project by the end of 2009.

However, it appears U.S. Army Corps of Engineers and National Marine Fisheries Service regulators plan to delay the project by requiring more unexpected environmental studies.The federal agencies are demanding a Formal Consultation and a Biological Assessment relating to the construction and operation of the Navarre Beach pier.

The current fishing pier was severely damaged by hurricanes in 2004 and 2005 and since that time Santa Rosa County has been working with FEMA to obtain about $8.4 million to remove the old pier and build a more disaster resistant structure.

Santa Rosa County Commissioner Gordon Goodin says the "dubious" request by the federal agencies will likely delay the pier from being rebuilt by six to 12 months.

"This delay was completely unexpected," he says in an e-mail. "This is a prime example of an arbitrary and capricious decision by a couple of federal agencies. It will increase costs, and since it is a project funded by FEMA, one federal agency (the Army Corps of Engineers in Jacksonville) is creating another unnecessary expense for another federal agency (FEMA) -- all funded through taxpayer dollars. Lost in all of this debate is the fact that the pier was in existence for 40 years prior to the hurricane that damaged it, something that can't find relevance with the bureaucrats."

Goodin and Santa Rosa County officials say they are working with Florida Congressmen in Washington, D.C., to try and resolve the permitting dispute with federal regulators. U.S. Sen. Bill Nelson's office says the delay will not take more than 135 days to be resolved and could be less, Goodin reports.

The new Navarre Beach pier will be about 20-feet wide and constructed using concrete piles, concrete pile caps, and concrete beams. Depending on how construction bids compare with the available funding, the pier will be 1,200 to 1,500 feet long.

Until the recent delays with obtaining the federal permit, Santa Rosa County had planned to advertise for bids in early June. Based on a 12-16 month construction schedule, this would allow for the pier to be completed by the end of 2009.

Santa Rosa County officials point out that the Navarre Beach fishing pier is very similar to two fishing piers currently being built in Panama City Beach and existing nearby fishing piers in Pensacola Beach and Okaloosa County. The proposed Panama City Beach piers and the other existing piers are also very similar in length, width, type of construction, and expected environmental impacts.

According to the county: The proposed Navarre Beach pier will be built adjacent to the remains of a current pier that was originally built in the 1960s. The project site is also the location of a large scale beach nourishment project that was completed in late 2005 using state and local funds. For this beach nourishment project, the beach width was increased by about 200 feet by pumping sand from an offshore site.

http://www.inweekly.net/article.asp?artID=7912

Okaloosa Pier

landlocked — Fri, 13 Jun 2008 10:17:01 GMT

Can someone tell me where the Okaloosa pier is?? I'm going to be down that way next week and will be targeting kings.

Thanks!!!!!!!!!

Does anybody Shark Fish here?

cudaman — Fri, 13 Jun 2008 00:38:57 GMT

It's time to leave the boat at the dock!

The sharktourney.com site is still taking team entries for the 4th Annual Shorebound Shark Tourney. The tournament is open to all of Florida. If interested, check out the sites. Thanks.

[url]http://www.boatlessfishing.com[/url]
[url]http://www.shoreboundsharktourney.com/docs/Team_Entry_Package.pdf[/url]

[url=http://www.shoreboundsharktourney.com/docs/Team_Entry_Package.pdf][IMG]http://i95.photobucket.com/albums/l128/cudaman100/sharktourneyposter_smaller.jpg[/IMG][/url]

Tight lines and lots of fish.

sharktourney.com

LY

Fishforlife2 — Tue, 10 Jun 2008 11:38:05 GMT

Any body know a good spot in Gulf Breeze or Pensacola for LY?

New to Pier

JoshMc — Tue, 03 Jun 2008 16:36:22 GMT

Hello, I just signed up for this forum today after spending about 3 straight hours just reading posts on here! I'm coming down at the end of July, early August, and planning on fishing from a few different piers while I'm there. What kind of fish can I expect to be there at that time, and also what is the best time of day where its not real crowded and fishing is still good. Thanks in advance!!!

Bob sykes?

Fish on! — Wed, 04 Jun 2008 09:42:01 GMT

hey guys i was thinkin about going out there this afternoon. anyone catching anything at all?

Weights

bullmaster — Tue, 03 Jun 2008 17:20:58 GMT

What kind of weights do you guys use to keep your bait in one spot while sharkfishing?The reason I ask is that I fished in NC and those guys didnt even use weights.I live in TX and we use what we call spider weights.They are a huge chunk of lead with either stainless or copper legs on them ,you pull on your line and the legs dig in the sand holding your bait in one place.We use these weights for all surfishing.I'll post a pic when the wife gets home.

Where to fish

huntdan — Sun, 01 Jun 2008 18:25:09 GMT

i need to know a really good place to pier fish:doh:banghead please help

blue crabs

scspecv22 — Sun, 18 May 2008 20:00:34 GMT

i have the inlaws coming down in a few weeks and they are from maryland. Needless to say i'm in the hunt for some blue crabs. Does anyone know a good spot to catch a few dozen or so? i've tryed the spot where i used to catch them in destin but seems like there are none around this year or they just haven't made there way yet. Any advice is appreciated

Bob Sikes fishing

Lynchmob — Fri, 23 May 2008 09:51:52 GMT

Is anyone catching anything out at Sikes lately? Should be about time for the spanish to be showing up. I went a couple of weeks ago and saw a few but not enough to really fool with. I didn't see any bait in the water either. So is anyone catching alot of spanish out there now and is the bait showed up?

getting close

bigjohn752000 — Wed, 28 May 2008 15:08:14 GMT

next week i leave for fort morgan woooohoooooo!!!!!!!!!!! ok now the hous i will be staying in is on the bay side about two miles from the mouth of the gulf... i have a three hundred foot private pier with the house any suggestions what i should fish for set ups and such!!! i got 6 teens age boys wanting to catch a shark!!!lol any help? bigjohn

3 mile

tigerfish — Wed, 28 May 2008 04:35:31 GMT

is there any plans to fix it

Why do you young men at the pier

ironman172 — Fri, 23 May 2008 15:57:44 GMT

Not wanting to start anything!!!!

I was at the pier on and off for the last 10 days when not out in the gulf...this last tues. a young man with red hair threw on a bunch of rays(looking to hook a cobe under it)but hooked the ray instead, all the old pier salts had already left with there equipment(many gaffs),

one other young man came looking for a gaff, which I had, just before this I was talking to a man from Alabama about these boys hooking a ray the day before and sticking it with 2 gaffs to get it up. We both agreeded that there is no need for the damage to this fish(from the gaffs)I told the young man that asked if those were my gaffs(looking to use them) to break off the ray and loose the jig......thinking if they did this enough they might stop throwing on the smaller rays that usually don't have cobes under them.......I was being an a$$....about it...it just pissed me off!!!! I saw this the other day too.....but I changed my mind and let them use it, that's why I am there to help or get help in the catching of fish.They were very appreciative, thanked me.... offered to rinse the gaff ....etc.

All that was appreciated by me, earlier I had the only net on the pier(at least the end) to net Lou's undersized cobe from a big turtle

My question is to these young men fishing the pier after I left if you hooked a good fish how would you land it.....maybe instead of having all the exspensive reels have a gaff to finish the catch and put a fish on the deck. and I hope I can help you in the future!!!

I was going to ask while I was there, but didn't.....look and learn from the older guys,.. they usually have the gaff's to complete the task of catching from the pier.

sometimes you can't rely on them(the older ones with the gaffs,nets) to be there when you need it.

I don't care how good you throw a jig if you can't get the fish to the deck what good is it.....it's along way to the beach

pier rail

SPACE — Sun, 25 May 2008 17:48:36 GMT

Does anyone know the height of the bottem board on the hand rail .I want to build one of those little platforms to stand on.

Miller Lite Mack Attack

Tide In Knots — Fri, 09 May 2008 21:16:43 GMT

Come on out and show the kayak and boat guys what you pier fisherman can do!!

Entry fee for the pier division is $30. Half of that fee will be put into the prize fund and half will be donated to Covenant Hospice. You will receive a tournament tee shirt with your entry. There will be a $100 optional cash award for the pier division only. The winner will receive a gift certificate for an annual pass to the Pensacola Beach Fishing Pier as well as the accumulated prize fund. KING MACKEREL is the only eligible species for the pier division. Register at the captain's meeting at Hub Stacey's at the Point on May 23, 2008 from 6:30 to 9:00pm. If you wish to enter the optional cash award please have separate payment of cash or a check made payable to cash. Standard entry fee is to be made payable to Covenant Hospice. Look for brochures and/or pamphlets with rules and entry forms at local bait and tackle stores, Wal Mart or Academy. If you would like to have one mailed to your home email bradsauers@bellsouth.net with your name and mailing address. There are very specific rules pertaining to this division so be sure to read them carefully.

Straw on jig head for spanish

true-king — Sun, 06 Apr 2008 21:15:25 GMT

Anybody use a straw on a jig head for spanish? If they eat bubble rigs, I'm sure they would eat a straw on a jig head. I had some extra jig heads around, so I tied some straws on them. After losing most of my pomp jigs today, I thought I would try the straw jigs tommorow.

Need some info on spots

powers333 — Sun, 11 May 2008 22:50:52 GMT

Im from kentucky and will be in perdido key this coming weekend. Im looking for some info on fishing spots and where they might be located. Bob skyes bridge and three mile bridge sounds like good spots but i dont know where they are. Any info will help locate them. Also what is biting right now, pomp trout and flounder it what it looks like from some of the post.

Pensacola beach pier

Fish on! — Thu, 01 May 2008 10:20:21 GMT

Hey i was thinking about going out to the pier after class today and i was just wondering if anyone had any new reports of anything going on there?

I KNOW MANY PEOPLE IN FLORIDA ARE TERRIFIED OF HURRICANE SEASON!! LET ME GIVE YOU SOME RELEIF!

BRANDONSMARINECON. — Sun, 23 Mar 2008 12:53:57 GMT

WE DRIVE EM DEEPER, FASTER!!

Has anyone fished the T pier behind the shell on the boardwalk?

TBonds — Wed, 23 Apr 2008 13:58:18 GMT

I fished it late nights last year and did pretty good with the specks and reds. Hopefully they got the lights working on it again.

pensacola pier

capehorn — Tue, 22 Apr 2008 19:10:19 GMT

do anybody have any info on the pensacola pier i saw them putting pillings up and if so how far are they going with it and when is the dead line on it any info is apreciated thanks

pompano bait

fshslyr — Sun, 20 Apr 2008 14:08:50 GMT

what is the bait of choice from the pier when fishing for pomps, other than pomp(conner jigs)? and are they still biting pretty good right now? planning on going tomorrow and want a good shot at catching some fish.

thanks

kevin

Pensacola Pier

reelthrill — Sat, 19 Apr 2008 19:36:10 GMT

Anyone have a pier report today???

Pomps?

PompNewbie — Fri, 18 Apr 2008 10:54:11 GMT

Just curious how far down the pier is a good place to try for pomps? 1st bar 2nd? etc..

Thanks Mike

Pilings

minkmaster — Tue, 15 Apr 2008 21:25:50 GMT

I was just wondering if there are any wrecks or rock structure around the pilings of the bridges to Ono Island and what should I expect to catch there???

Pensacola pier report

reelthrill — Tue, 15 Apr 2008 10:40:51 GMT

I know the wind is wrong but I just wanted to get an update. Water clarity, pompano???

How packed is the Pier on Saturday AMs?

wishiniwasfishin07 — Thu, 10 Apr 2008 18:01:14 GMT

Thinking of going to the Pensacola Pier saturday for spanish....kinda worried about a pack of people being there. Is it still fishable for spanish and that kind of thing? Don't care about cobia (from the pier) so I think we'll stay away from the end. Any thoughts?