A crying shame

The tackle rental at the pier is a disgrace to the image of the pier. Several times recently, I have been approached by tourist type people asking me how to catch fish at the pier. I always try to ask a few questions, such as what they want to catch and what kind of tackle they have, and the answers are usually, "Anything that will bite." and "This is what I rented." I really hate it when kids are involved and are not having a good experience.

Today, I saw a couple of kids leave the pier office with rental rigs more suitable for (gasp) great white sharks than whiting. The terminal rig is where it was painful looking. Weights looked to have been chosen at random from the 'too heavy' and 'too light' compartments. Leaders were, of course, those heavy, pre-made plastic coated wire things suitable for orcas, with a #2 or 1/0 treble hook snapped onto the end. Give me a rig like that and I'd have a hard time catching a hardhead catfish, much less a desirable fish. (Hey, no snide remarks from the peanut gallery---I do catch good fish from time to time.)

I have given away lots of improved rigs, smaller hooks, etc., to the folks who have asked for help, and I hope y'all will join me in my crusade to help visiting folks actually catch a fish or two. It doesn't take much---telling them to throw away the dam frozen squid is a good start. Maybe on one of the slow days we've been having, I could go by the office and make up some rigs that might actually catch fish. I don't propose to donate any VanStals to their tackle rental program, but I can fix some of their own stuff into reasonable rigs. Anybody want to help?

It's just a real shame that they charge people for tackle that is useless. It's a real ripoff.

Well Mr Wire that is another reason why we all like you and that pier​ mouse of yours. I've witnessed quite a few smiles from small children as well as the parents. Keep up the good work.

I will help make anyone's day better, especially if it involves fishing.

Hay, check pm and Thanks.

And this is why i and many other visitors keep coming back, i remember my first trip, using extra heavy tackle and squid, wondering why i couldnt catch a fish and a couple locals helping me out, teaching me what to use and pointing me to this forum, i try and pay it forward any way i can now, both here and on the pier, i'm willing to help anyway i can

It's a ripoff, in that the set-up is arranged for the convenience of those renting out the equipment. Just think about how little work goes into setting up an outfit that never gets bit! You never have to replace the terminal tackle and you don't have to worry about a big game fish hitting a stinky squid glob! You check it out to the user, sell 'em a cup of stinky squid and a few hours later, you express your condolences, check the outfit back in, rinse it off and it's ready to go again, none the worse for wear. The ripoff comes in the lack of value from that experience.

I'd do it differently. I'd rig the rods for whiting (for instance) and sell a few extra prepared leaders. I'd sell shrimp and fish bites and never sell stinky squid. I'd sell the heck out of needle-nosed pliers, which I'd recommend for every person who might hook a hardhead catfish.

Haywire, I've done the same as you. I've given I don't know how many rigged leaders to newbie fishermen not catching anything because they were set up just like you described. I'd help with the effort, but I'm all bogged down with as much work as I want - to the point that I can't get away to fish!

Sure wish I could help .....and Thank You Mr. Wire and all others for helping the less knowledgeable about pier fishing.....it is a learning process by all.....we are all in different stages of it....... like life in general

similar story. About 4 years ago a friend of mine came with us and wanted to fish the pier with me. He went to a little bait shop in OB that's closed now and told them he wanted to catch red fish. When he came back to the condo I couldn't help but laugh. They pretty much sold him a broom stick with about 20 eyes for $110.00. Shame when people take advantage of the unknowing.

My advice is for someone to send a nicely worded and detailed email to the GSP Park Chief explaining why the current rental setups are not very appropriate and suggest changes to make them more usable.

Mr wire I think they where trying to catch sharks. I've overheard plenty of conversations of kids asking if they can catch a shark.

Also, Are the rod rentals any good??