Complete Novice - lots of questions

I live in Birmingham, and I'm thinking about taking a couple of days off in the middle of the week sometime expressly to try out the pier. In all my trips to the coast, I've never fished from the pier, so I am completely unprepared. I have no equipment whatsoever. So, my questions.

1) It's my understanding that rentals are available. Is this correct?
2) I also have no license. Are licenses available on-premises?
3) The same goes for bait.

Basically, the idea is that my buddy and I will drive down for a single overnight stay and to fish from the pier. Our equipment is all for smaller freshwater fishing, so I don't plan on bringing my own rods/reels. What supplementary equipment is recommended? Chairs?

Another silly question: Are popup-tents allowed on the pier? I imagine they might impede casting, but just throwing the idea out there.

Any tips on things we should bring, or general tips on conduct? I don't want to anger any of the locals.

No tents, I'd reccomend not renting the pier gear. Your smaller stuff will work better than the crap they rent.

Do some searching on reading on here and most questions can be answered.

Visit J&M in OB and get any gear you may need. The staff can also give you the latest reports from the beach all the way to blue water.

You can purchase a fishing lic. online and that'll give you more time to fish.

[quote author=PurpleNGold link=topic=1977.msg18670#msg18670 date=1347034662]
You can purchase a fishing lic. online and that'll give you more time to fish.
[/quote]

you can also go to walmart in B'ham and buy your lic, on a 7 day trip lic say your gonna be down at 6 am to start fishing on a Wed. get your lic on Tuesday but tell them to have the start time 6am Wed.

unless you plan on king fishing you will be fine with your freshwater gear. and even then i have caught kings on my (bass) casting rods..

1. I agree the rental tackle is NOT what you want to fish with.
Also your 'freshwater' tackle will suffice for most of what you will be fishing for.
You can look around and get plenty of ideas of what you to upgrade to.

2. Since the ONLY place you intend to fish is the pier you can just buy a pier fishing license (for the whole year) for less than the trip license costs.
You can get it @ Walmart or the pier, but online is THE way to go IMHO :headbang:
https://www.alabamainteractive.org/d...welcome.action

3. Most of the natural bait you want to use will either be caught or bought onsite or nearby.
The same with lures as the tackle, you will be better off seeing for yourself what type of fishing you want to do and then go shopping for the essentials.

You can find more info about the GSPPier @ http://www.alapark.com/GulfState/Gul...20Park%20Pier/

Hope this helps!
WELCOME to the forum and the pier!!
Good luck!!! :yippee:

PurpleNGold nailed it... Stop by J&M, tell them you're fishing the pier, ask what is biting, tell'em what you have and that you want to fish with it as much as you can.
They will fix you up with what you need, they will not take advantage of you and sell you a bunch of crud you don't need.

I've been very happy with my trips to J&M.

BTW sleeping is against the posted rules there so wouldn't advise laying out a sleeping bag or anything. If you only have one day to fish you may want to gather some gear before your on the way or buy a ready to go rig, and some premade leaders from j&m or like shops. Licenses are available at the pier, but its just a couple of public computers they have set-up to buy licenses online, so you might as well get them before you go if you want to save time. Bring a good size cooler, preferably on some wheels. (Its a long walk when its full of ice, and your carrying other gear.)

Must haves to bring: cooler, sunscreen, water, hats, bait or something to catch bait, pliers, a few rigs of some sort (even better to make your own).

... and polorized sunglasses :headbang:

Thanks for all the feedback guys. I totally didn't think about the cooler on wheels.

Very much appreciated.