Thread: Bottom rig...

Hey all,

New to the forum and will be in Gulf Shores starting the 12th for a week as the kid is playing ball down there. I appreciate all of the great info that is shared here, and look forward to spending some time fishing from the pier that week.

A popular rig that we use from piers in the Great Lakes has a pyramid (usually 2-4oz.) sinker on the bottom, to which a short section of braid (i.e. 18" or so) is tied to a quality barrel swivel. The weight is cast out and the line tightened with the rod in the holder. Another short section of leader (usually 15# fluoro) is then tied with a small SPRO snap (no swivel) on one end, and a circle hook on the other. The snap is placed on the mainline, and then let go. It slides down the mainline to the barrel swivel just above the weight. We do this to avoid having to deal with gobies, an invasive that makes bottom fishing almost impossible at certain times of the year. The rig keeps the bait suspended slightly off the bottom when done correctly. We use small pieces of shrimp, live alewives, nightcrawlers, etc. etc. and catch steelhead, brown trout, sheepshead, catfish, etc. etc. with these rigs. At times we target depths 4-10' off the bottom, and that is easily done by lengthening the leader between the weight and the barrel swivel. We use long rods, but I've noticed that it doesn't appear necessary down there, so we are packing our 7' MH spinning outfits to save a little space on the trip.

Is this over-thinking things a bit? I've got all the stuff to fish Carolina rigs on the bottom, but have a bunch of what I described above tied up. Will having braid mainline to the sinker, and then the snap and swivel cause issues with spooky (line-shy) fish? I understand a little in regard to tidal periods, but what depths are we talking about fishing around the pier (obviously variable given the length of it)?

We'll likely try casting plugs, but it seems that fresh dead bait is a better way to get some action. The boys are pumped...and I hope I can get them on some fish.

Thanks in advance for any responses, and once again thanks for all of the information on this forum.

Isn't this a trolley rig? From what I understand, a single trolley line is permitted on the pier.

Trolley rig, which, according to the pier rules, isn't allowed (though I have seen others doing it in the past)
http://www.gulfshorespierfishing.com...er-rules-6581/

A simple Carolina rig will work for nearly everything you can catch from the pier (more "trash fish" than anything, but will work for flounder, specks, white trout, etc also). Put an egg sinker on the main line (sized according to current...enough to keep the weight on the bottom), then tie on a swivel. Tie a length on leader on the other eye of the swivel followed by hook. Fresh frozen shrimp as bait

If you want to try casting for spanish or blues, get several spoons, gotcha plugs, bubble rigs/straws, and a spool of 50# mono for leader. With these setups, you'll make your cast and "rip" them back in (reel a little, then give the rod a twitch to make the lure dart back and forth).

And just FYI, make sure you check the fish you catch before trying to lip them...most of the species in the gulf have teeth that will make for a bad day if you try to lip them.

I'd start by targeting a species. If that species has sharp teeth, you'll want to use 40# (or larger) fluorocarbon leader or (in the case of king mackerel) steel leader.

For Spanish mackerel, sure - try plugs or small, whole (previously frozen) cigar minnows. Cast 'em out and just slow drift-retrieve them back to you. The best tip, though is read everything you can about fishing the pier BY SPECIES (since your rigging will depend on what you're going after). Then, with that information, watch what other fishermen are doing to be successful.

When you don't know what you're seeing -- just ask somebody. Like, "What are those fish hitting at the surface?" If it's redfish or jack crevalle - throw 'em a crocodile spoon. You won't catch them on fresh dead shrimp pieces, more than likely. They're feeding on fish, so you have to throw them something that looks fishy.

Be safe. Remember that there are novice fishermen flinging treble hooks, sometimes without looking. Just be careful walking behind people when they're casting.

Watch what's going on elsewhere on the pier. Since these are often schooling fish, one part of the pier might have wild action while there's zero happening on the other side of the pier. Lastly - If everybody else is catching and you're not, observe what they're doing and-- do that!

Originally Posted by hammerhead

Trolley rig, which, according to the pier rules, isn't allowed (though I have seen others doing it in the past)
http://www.gulfshorespierfishing.com...er-rules-6581/

A simple Carolina rig will work for nearly everything you can catch from the pier (more "trash fish" than anything, but will work for flounder, specks, white trout, etc also). Put an egg sinker on the main line (sized according to current...enough to keep the weight on the bottom), then tie on a swivel. Tie a length on leader on the other eye of the swivel followed by hook. Fresh frozen shrimp as bait

If you want to try casting for spanish or blues, get several spoons, gotcha plugs, bubble rigs/straws, and a spool of 50# mono for leader. With these setups, you'll make your cast and "rip" them back in (reel a little, then give the rod a twitch to make the lure dart back and forth).

And just FYI, make sure you check the fish you catch before trying to lip them...most of the species in the gulf have teeth that will make for a bad day if you try to lip them.

Ok...so a little research shows that what we do (can't believe I've never heard anyone refer to it as a trolley rig) is in fact not permitted on the pier. Not sure why, but the rules are the rules. So fair enough, we'll have Carolina rigs with us should we decide to fish with bait.

Thanks guys.

A little more research shows that thread is outdated.
In 2014 the Pier updated their rules to the following (note #3)...
http://www.alapark.com/sites/alapark...egulations.pdf

I've heard that Rig being called a variety of names (Moyer's, Jamison's, etc.),
but they are all variations of the 'Slip Weight Rig'...

Interesting to say the least. One of the reasons they work so well for us up here is that we can suspend the bait off the bottom, which really helps in that many of the salmonoids feed off the bottom, not on the bottom.

So...it would seem that I could use the rigs? Thanks guys.