Thread: Rules for courteous newbie

Hello everyone. New to the site and pier fishing but not fishing. First what is the Octi and how do most land their fish on to deck. Second what are the top three things you hate to see newbies do. My son and i want t learn right and be good deck neighbors. Thanks

Welcome
The Octi is the end of the pier, so named for its octagonal shape
Small fish reeled or hand lined up
Larger, non toothy species (and small valuable species such as pompano), hauled up in the round pier nets you'll see on most pier carts
Large toothy species gaffed with the large 3 or 4 prong gaffs you'll see on many pier carts
I'll leave pet peeves up to the regulars

You won't find a pier anywhere that is friendlier to newbies than this one. I went last year and observed for a little while then dove right in. The pier rats were very patient and gracious.

Do what the locals do. Be sure to say thanks when you get the help that I promise will be offered.

[size=12pt]First of all, thanks for posting and welcome aboard.
The replies are on the money, observe those who know what they are doing and ask questions. Most are happy to help ya out, and it is easy to determine who knows what’s going on from those who are clueless.
Don’t know if these are the top three, but here are three don’ts:
1. Don’t leave your rod leaning or strapped on the rail unattended.
2. Don’t fish for Kings with braid line unless you are really good.
3. Don’t just stand there like a statue when someone is fighting a big fish.
Like I said, may not be the top three, but probably high on the list if there was a list.
Come on out, we’d be glad to have you. Common sense and common courtesy will get you all the help you want.
As for the nets and gaffs, there are a lot of them on the pier during the day and plenty of folks ready to help you get your fish on the deck for a photo op and a oneway trip to the dinner table! At night not so much, may want to get a net.
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Before casting a line, walk up to the rail and get a feel for what is going on. Look at the current direction, who is snobbling and who is freelining live baits.

Figure out how you want to fish and try to position yourself beside some one fishing the same way and start asking them questions. For instance, I snobble exclusively. But last Sat, you almost had to have a live bait under a cork. I had never fished that way. So, I went and observed how people were doing it.

I then got setup with a cork (thanks Slim) and I cast out off to the side to stay out of the way. I choked off two king in two casts and got laughed at a lot (mostly by Slim) but I learned what I needed and went on out to the end. Never had a problem and never caused any tangled messes.

My only pet peeve is please do not hit anyone in the head or ear with your reel when you cast.

I like to add also when someone hooks up look at the lines and go under or over them i had like 6 people just run down the rail like a tard and tangle me up with them :boohoo:

[quote author=FinChaser link=topic=899.msg8482#msg8482 date=1333932638]
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Like I said, may not be the top three, but probably high on the list if there was a list.
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Oughta be a sticky with a list of these
oke1:
Message received

[quote author=divedeep link=topic=899.msg8486#msg8486 date=1333934281]
(cough cough) - west end - unattended rods tied down during 50 fish king run - (cough cough) :spank:
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I fish Navarre so this doesnt bother me anymore

Also, I am watching this thread. If it starts to get to uncivil I will start moderating posts :evil: This is one of those topics that need to be discussed, but I think I remember a couple of these threads on the old forum that turned into personal attacks.

[quote author=divedeep link=topic=899.msg8486#msg8486 date=1333934281]
Oughta be a sticky with a list of these but, as we discussed last week, the people who [size=12pt]should[/size] read them would be the ones who ignore them.
(cough cough) - west end - unattended rods tied down during 50 fish king run - (cough cough) :spank:
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You jist can’t fix inconsiderate! :guns:

^^^ Im telling ya, try fishing Navarre. You will learn how to dodge rods and fight fish. There are always rods laying on the rail at the end. But, that is just how they fish out there. You have to be a little more alert when fighting a fish and working the rail, but it just makes it more fun.