!st Pier Trip

I am new here and am planning my first pier trip for tomorrow, Friday. I was wondering if there are any tips I might be able to solicit out of the veterans before I come down?

Thanks

[size=12pt]Welcome aboard, thanks for signing up and posting.

What species are you going to target?
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Biggest thing is if you dont know what you are doing, ask a regular!
Lots of helpful people out on the pier, so dont be afraid to ask questions. Also, standing back and watching how things are done before hitting the rail helps.
That and get out of the way when someone yells "COMING DOWN!".

But dont worry, you'll catch on, we all had our first time at the rail at one point or another.

Thanks finchaser. I guess my target is what's biting now. I know the sheeps were thick weeks past but not sure now. I don't believe I have the proper setups for the big boys though. Definitely interested in spanish and pompano if they're out there.

For spanish, you'll need some 50lb mono for leaders and some gotcha's, jigs and maybe some bubble rigs.
For pompano, its pompano jigs, live shrimp or sand fleas, the live bait fished on a carolina rig.
What size rods/reels do you have?

Hey Carl,
I have got 4 combos I was thinking of bringing. 2 of them are standard spincast w/ 7ft's and 10 and 12 lb line, the reels are 40 series. The other 2 are off the rack walmart surf combos. One 7ft with probably 17lb and the other a 9ft with probably 20lb.

The spincaster's will work for whiting in the surf, and I have even seen the really big ones catch kings, but they are really under-engineered for drag-burning runs, so I would stick to whiting with them. Maybe spanish if they are stout and have a fast retrieve.

Your surf rods are fine for kings and bull reds, just make sure they have lots of line. I use 14# on my king rod, over 250 yards of it. Even if you have to take the 20# off the bigger rod and drop down to 14 or 17#, do it if you need more yardage. Pick up some 36# wire, black swivels and some #4 xtra strong trebles and you are good to go. You can also pick up some sabiki rigs and ribbon rigs and use one of your spincasters to catch bait.
The smaller surf rod would work for spanish too, a little heavy, but it will work.

Go by J&M Tackle (see add at top) and tell them you want to pier fish and they'll fix you up