Thread: Rod and Reel?

What rod and reel do you guys and gals recommend for a starting pier fisherman.

I got a pier cart cart but nothing else.

Thanks

Some medium fresh water rods and reel would be fine..... just rinse daily...... nothing big yet
with the pier not fully open some species might be way to challenging to catch when they head south, and you can't follow

What Bill said. Also depends on your budget and what you expect from it.

3000-4000 reel for Spanish, Blues Whiting Pompano 7' - 7'-6" rod. 10-12lb line (mono)

5000-6000 reel for Kings, Reds. 8' rod. 15-20lb line. (mono)

- IMO only

Hard to go wrong with Penn Daiwa Shimano

edit: If I had to chose, I'd take the 4000 and 6000. Better to have more than you need than not enough.

Would love to post something, only thing I would add is a 2500/3000, I find myself going to lighter and lighter stuff

With the current situation at the pier, I would suggest you follow the afore-mentioned advice and start by gearing on the 'lighter' side of the tackle spectrum.
This will give you "more bang..." unless you plan to fish a good bit from the beach or other piers for bull reds or kings.

But for now on the GSPPier, you can 'start' with a 4000 reel class combo on a 7 foot medium action rod.
Penn Fierce III combos are available for under $100 (for example).
I would suggest 12 or 15 line (mono or braid). This will cover most of what will be available inshore like sheepshead, slot to 'just over' redfish, throwing bottom rigs, plugs and jigs for bluefish, ladyfish and spanish mackerel, etc.

The 3000 size version is on a medium light rod and would be great with 6 or 8 pound mono.
This would cover most of the fish you would most likely encounter from the GSPPier in its present condition (whiting, specks and slot redfish, blues, small spanish, flounder, etc.).

Decades ago, I self taught the advantages of light tackle pier fishing. Yeah, I lost some fish (and still do occasionally), but noted every time I 'stepped down' in line class (from 10, to 8, to 6, to 4) the number of bites I got more than doubled!
The trick is learning how light to go under ever-changing conditions for each target species in order to get the bites, and still maintain a reasonable amount of control and expectation of success.

Interesting post Pier#r

#er, I listened to you, I am mostly a boat fisherman but, I use my 2500's so much, even catching hardtails for bait is an adventure. Thank you for the lighter advice

Thanks for the info, I appreciate the advice (and need it). Hope to be down in March out of this northern snow.

Talking Rock, are you from N. GA.?