First visit to the pier

I'm a relative newbie to saltwater fishing and visited the Gulf Shores Pier from about noon to 3 today, Sept. 30, 2024. Saw lots of folks catching squat, but between the bathrooms midway on the pier and the octagon, there was one area where schools of Spanish mackerel and big ladyfish were coming through. I learned a lot, like how freshwater plastics will get plenty of hits, but the macks and ladyfish chew 'em up REAL FAST. I also learned the value of a good leader after losing 3-4 fairly expensive lures. Some of my lures were single-hook jigs and the macks were slamming them hard, but not hooking up. Do treble hooks work better? Two guys having the best luck were using clear casting bubbles about 2/3 full of water, then for a lure they had what like a treble hook with a rubber or plastic straw slid down the shank of the hook. Hot pink or red was working best.

In addition to the macks and ladyfish, one young man hooked a big jack crevalle that headed for shore, so he followed it, almost running along the pier as folks cleared a path for him. Didn't see whether he actually landed the jack or not.

Also had at least two good-size sharks hanging out around the pier today, two or three sea turtles and a few hundred jellyfish.

The ladies at the tackle and snack bar there at the pier were very helpful and nice. I hope to fish the pier at least once more while we're here this week.

Those are called bubble rigs. If you go to J&M or Hooked Up Bait, they'll have "silicone sunglass holders" that are used for the rig.

Gotcha plugs, looney and hex head jigs are also very effective.

Treble hooks are usually more effective (IMHO) than single hooks because they'll also foul hook the fish when they slash at the lure.

I usually run 40# flouro or 50# mono bite leaders and retie as they get chewed up.

Forgot to add 2 things:

Get a large sized sabiki rig, 1-2 oz weight. (Are they still allowed at the pier?) Cut it in half, tie surgeon's knot to secure weight or to snap swivel. You don't need to overhand these things, a good underhand swing will put it out in the strike zone.

Use a small sabiki and catch LY's. Either freeline or use a bobber. 3' of 20-25# flouro/mono leader with long shank J hook. Spanish will tend to hit the hook rather than the leader. Inspect after every hit. Been very successful lately on the Pensacola side with this rig.

An old-timer looked at what I thought were sharp jig hooks and sharpened them until they could not be pulled across my thumbnail without digging in. THEN I hooked spanish.

From freshwater, dip bait tubes work too on bubble rigs, but only the thinnest. Straws from MacDonalds work best for me but I now also hoard straws in different colors. Sometimes a white crappie jig on a bubble rig is what they want (looking like what we called a white bass rig).

Why not just work a small jig on top? Without the bubble you have the option to let it sink and fish the bottom Bubbles chum sharks Are you guys having trouble casting or something?

:drunkJust messin with you guys! Pretty decent Spanish bite this aft🤙

A clear bubble makes a splashing noise to attract fish but doesn't draw strikes or cutoffs. I've seen people use popping corks instead of clear bubbles but the water resistance is trouble when speed is required. I have also seen a section of 2" PVC pipe capped on both ends, with screw eyes added. It weighed more than a bubble and could be thrown farther. Striped bass fishermen use a wooden egg to throw a teaser toward rocks like jettys; a plastic bubble would not live long if it hit rocks.

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Originally Posted by midwestexile

A clear bubble makes a splashing noise to attract fish but doesn't draw strikes or cutoffs. I've seen people use popping corks instead of clear bubbles but the water resistance is trouble when speed is required. I have also seen a section of 2" PVC pipe capped on both ends, with screw eyes added. It weighed more than a bubble and could be thrown farther. Striped bass fishermen use a wooden egg to throw a teaser toward rocks like jettys; a plastic bubble would not live long if it hit rocks.

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Lotta guys over on the Pensacola side throw a wooden egg with a through drilled flat sinker in front of it. Flat side towards the egg kinda like a T. Usually with a large silver spoon. Bonita can't leave em alone. Plus they throw those rigs about a half mile lol

Edited to add:

If you do use a bubble, run a few layers of electrical tape around the seam. Helps keep it from cracking if you strike the pier.


I learned all of this from Haywire, Pier#er and the other seasoned heads at the pier. I owe y'all a huge thank you for teaching me and others.

[QUOTE=will46r;147895]Lotta guys over on the Pensacola side throw a wooden egg with a through drilled flat sinker in front of it. Flat side towards the egg kinda like a T. Usually with a large silver spoon. Bonita can't leave em alone. Plus they throw those rigs about a half mile .[/QUOTE


I love good ideas. Thanks. The guy with the PVC teaser I mentioned called it a bobo rig. Panama City area they sometimes run a small surface lure ( like a Rapala but cheaper) behind a bubble, but the thought of unhooking 2 trebles plus Spanish teeth requires a braver soul than mine.

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Originally Posted by 00706

Why not just work a small jig on top? Without the bubble you have the option to let it sink and fish the bottom Bubbles chum sharks Are you guys having trouble casting or something?

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I caught my largest Spanish Wed morn. dropping a white Ironman jig 20ft from the Octi, all the way to the bottom and snatching up 5 times before it fell... all 3 fish hit it on the fall.

Was it a 1/4 oz hex?