Thread: A crying shame

Don't underestimate the illusions of customers, either. They don't really understand that heavy tackle is not always required in saltwater and might think that light tackle was somehow a sign of being treated as a fool. Of course we know the opposite is true.

Originally Posted by midwestexile

Don't underestimate the illusions of customers, either. They don't really understand that heavy tackle is not always required in saltwater and might think that light tackle was somehow a sign of being treated as a fool. Of course we know the opposite is true.

You have an excellent point. I just feel sorry for the novices who already have two strikes against them and are then handed a blindfold. It may be that I'm messing in somebody's business where I shouldn't, but I just think the tackle renters are due better service.

The more I think about it, the rod and reel could be rented, and the customer asked what he/she would like to fish for. The typical answer is "anything", and they could then be sold a small packet with the appropriate terminal tackle for the shallows. Or a packet with a Gotcha and a jig for Spanish, or a couple of king leaders for that. Can even sell more than one packet of tackle. Everybody wins.

Maybe instead of saying "This ain't rocket-surgery" we should be saying "This ain't DEEP-SEA-FISHING" ;-)

It's as if the folks renting the equipment don't know anything about sales! While it's true that a person renting the current set-up needs nothing else, to "fish" -- are they really fishing if they have almost no chance of catching? Besides that, how ethical is it to rent -- anything -- and have no expertise in the field to help the customer?
If you were to ask the "sales" person "What does this outfit (as rigged) catch?" I'm betting that the answer is "anything", which we know to not be the truth. The REAL truthful answer would be "almost nothing will be caught using this contraption with the bait that we recommend."

If the clerk were to continue with the truth, he'd admit that the rental is designed for limited wear on the rod, reel, line, and terminal tackle. He'd have to admit that when he checks rentals back in and asks about their success, he's NEVER had anybody catch anything but hardhead catfish and sting rays.

Since I'm in the rental (not fishing equipment) business, if it was me, I'd design a win/win solution. I'd rig for whiting and sell frozen shrimp, fresh-dead shrimp (from the bait tank), and fish bites. I would sell a basic terminal tackle kit with extra pre-tied leaders and hooks, including, of course, egg sinkers. Included in the tackle kit would be a basic bait knife and pliers. Of course if the customer preferred, he could opt to walk back to the store to purchase terminal tackle as needed instead of buying a tackle kit for the day.

Similarly, if the visitor wanted to try for Spanish mackerel or bluefish, he could buy a pre-rigged Gotcha or Hopkins/Clark styled spoon.

You have to see how the current paradigm has no/little success, but few complaints except for no fish, which can always be attributed to a lack of skill or the fish just not biting. To drill-down to the actual issue for "no fish", you have to know something about fishing and care about the satisfaction of the customer. It would also help if someone who rents fishing gear knew something about selling!

As far as what can actually be done to help the present situation - Maybe information to help the newbie fisherman made available at the bait/tackle shop? It could be read while not catching anything using the pier-rental setup!

I dealt with this my first time down. First time to ever see the ocean much less fish it. Rented a shark pole basically with probably 50 pound mono and the heavy wire leader and was told the squid will catch anything that bites. Caught a few catfish and a Ramora, if that's how you spell it, and my brother got lucky and caught a nice Pompano which we knew no better and threw back instead of eating. Found this forum and J&M before my next trip down and just downsizing everything and using live and fresh shrimp resulted in a much better experience. I've gained knowledge each trip down but some people, exspecially kids probably don't come back to the pier to try again they can save an 8 hour drive to catch catfish. Hiring a knowledgeable person that actually fishes the pier to work there would make a world of difference. You go with high expectations and curiosity of not knowing what all you could catch in the salt and leave pissed off and dissapointed as a first timer watching all these other people pulling in beautiful fish and you just smell like squid.

As a landlocked "out of towner"I want to say thank you to Haywire and others for your concern for those of us "newbies" that come to the pier and or area surf- had it not been for the people of this forum I wound not have caught anything but catfish last May and I certainly would NOT be leaving SE Arkansas this Saturday morning to come back to your area to fish for a week!!!- thanks for your thoughtfulness and patience- see ya soon!

Originally Posted by Arkie Preacher

As a landlocked "out of towner"I want to say thank you to Haywire and others for your concern for those of us "newbies" that come to the pier and or area surf- had it not been for the people of this forum I wound not have caught anything but catfish last May and I certainly would NOT be leaving SE Arkansas this Saturday morning to come back to your area to fish for a week!!!- thanks for your thoughtfulness and patience- see ya soon!

++1, Well said, if all members from other forums and fishermen from other locations had the heart giving attitude of this group, both the world and fishing would be better.

Today, I talked to the boss man at the tackle shop and he is all on board with helping folks do better. He said he was already in the process of putting together some packages to help people target fish correctly and he's very knowledgeable about fishing at the pier, having done a lot of it. He said something I didn't quite understand about having to use terminal tackle provided by his tackle reps, or something like that, but I think folks can look forward to an improved situation. The rods and reels are good quality Penn products---maybe a little light for reds and kings, but certainly appropriate for most pier fishing.

Sounds like things are moving in the right direction. Thanks for your efforts Mr. Haywire.

Maybe we need to start a "pier volunteer" program, volunteers could get an armband or something that would tell newbies that we are the people to look for who are willing to offer advices & help.
Just a thought.

Originally Posted by CarlF

Sounds like things are moving in the right direction. Thanks for your efforts Mr. Haywire.

Maybe we need to start a "pier volunteer" program, volunteers could get an armband or something that would tell newbies that we are the people to look for who are willing to offer advices & help.
Just a thought.

FREE BEER would certainly increase the number of volunteers ;-)
Of course they may end up with matching bracelets instead of armbands though LOL