Thread: Rip Current Effects

What effect, if any, does a rip current have on pier or beach fishing?

On the pier, I wouldn't think it would have any impact.

On the beach, if its rough enough to really worry about rip currents, then its probably too rough to fish.
That said, the offshore flow might attract fish, if its carrying food with it. But then rip currents are unpredictable and start/stop in a matter of minutes in any given location, so I'm not sure how you would ID them or target them.

There was a strong rip current just west of the pier one day last April. The surf was really rough, stained and almost unfishable. I was throwing a jig/teaser fly out on the bar and could feel the current taking my line south. I switched rods and put a small live shrimp on a Carolina rig and moved a little closer to the beach and caught a limit of pompano in less than an hour-along with a dozen or so little hardhead catfish. I found one on the beach in March of 2015 and caught a sheepshead using ghost shrimp on a double drop rig with a 3oz sputnik weight and a 18" TL Spanish on the pompano jig/teaser. I was soaking wet and freezing cold and left for the jacuzzi at the condo or I might have stayed longer and caught more fish.