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So I know that shark fishing isn't really allowed on the pier, but a lot of people were doing it. What are your thoughts on people using body parts from the cleaning station and then attracting and hooking sharks by other people fishing for mackerel? Is this considered rude or just part of the fun? Me being an outsider I tried not to have an opinion of it and just kept winding up mine and the kids line when needed to keep from getting crossed up in the shark line.
Whether we like it or not, shark fishing is prohibited at the pier and I wholeheartedly agree that it can be bothersome when some people are "accidentally" hooking up sharks and interfering with other fishing. When people are doing something that is against the rules, and it bothers me, I call the pier office just like the many signs posted on the pier urge us to do. It is not tattling, and it is up to us to report it---they can't or won't keep a ranger on the pier to enforce the rules full time and it is not our job to do so, but we can let them know when it's going on. There is good cell phone service on the pier---use it.
You aren't an outsider. You are entitled to enjoy your time on the pier. Don't let the scofflaws ruin it for you.
The temptation to play with sharks even if they cannot be landed is hard to resist for kids of all ages.
On another vein, people hooked up to tarpon, rays, big-ugly black drum, ramoras and other fish the fishers cannot reasonably want to keep also interfere with those seeking the popular targets like kings. I'd like to think longer about whether we want those fishing for the fun of it and not for food voted off the octi by being too rigorous about people "getting in the way."
You can but most of the time Shark, Rays etc are caught on the bottom. I don't think you are allowed to bottom fish at the end of the pier. If we try to stop people from being drug to the end to fight a fish then next we will say if you don't have a Van Staal reel you can't play. It is all fishing, It is all fun. If I hook a Tarpon I am going where he goes sorry if I get in the way. I had rather catch 1 Tarpon or Sail than 10 Kings. I had rather move for a shark than have someone put a lure in my head or constantly casting over me. If lots of sharks are around usually you arn't going to get much of anything in anyway. Not sure I have seem people actually chumming for sharks on the GS Pier.
Been watching this forum for several years now to keep up with pier life. Figured this was as good a time as any to make my first post. First of all I have been fishing the pier one week out of the year for the last 15-20 years. Just in the last 3 did I really start to learn and pay attention to all the different techniques. Growing up all we ever did as kids was bottom fish shrimp. Last year we had a ton of success with Spanish, Bonita, and even hooked up with a few kings but never landed. By the time I got to the pier last Friday morning the water was awful. I had no clue what that meant as far as the fishing was concerned. I knew when I got to the pier there was very little people and I knew it was a bad sign. I did my normal routine and walked down to the Octi and got my LY which took forever to find bait. I drifted my LY and with in 10 minutes was hooked to something. Heard people saying probably a shark, and sure enough it was. Got him to the pier and cut my line. This happened numerous times, there was a nice local that told me to just let them get in the pilons and the barnacles would take care of my line! I will admit that being a one time a year pier fisherman it was a thrill. Anytime to get hooked up on a fish that fight like that is really fun. I certainly did not set out to catch shark. I didn't use city bait or go looking for fish parts at cleaning stations. After I hooked up with several sharks and loosing several liters and rigs I started fishing for other species. I did witness people fishing for sharks intentionally and can see how that would be very aggravating, especially if the kings and other fish would have been biting. The flip side of that is many people like me only have set number of days and don't get to experience the pier like many. When we come we like to catch fish, regardless of the species. That being said, if a person is catching shark and it is with in the legal means of doing so I got no issue with it. For me one or two times was enough and too expensive to keep doing. I had a blast this year on the pier especially Sunday and Monday when the water cleared. I wish I would have put a face with some of the names I see on here.
Hope to see y'all soon.