Winter pier fishing

I've never fished the pier during the winter. Is there much to fish for off the pier during this time?

There's great fishing during the winter. Reds, Specs, Whiting, Sheepies.

Since Sunday is gonna be cold. What type of species would be best to target then?

I am trying to get a couple of googs together and fish there November 14-15. I am assuming that the target will be redfish. I love me some sheephead though, and have caught them before in the bay on shrimp. Do you fish for them like you do the specs - shrimp on the bottom with small test line?

:yippee:
That's a good start vetrock!
Use your previous experience of the tactics that worked for you in the past and try to apply them at the pier.

Winter fishing (for me) is even more about "fishing the conditions" than other times of year.
The timing between fronts is critical in targeting species and what tactics to use.
For instance you probably wouldn't do well with live shrimp and light line on a 20 knot windy day when the gulf is whipped to a froth and the water visibility resembles coffee with cream ;-)
But that might be an excellent day to fish the end for bull reds.

Hope this helps!

[quote author=vetrock link=topic=178.msg1587#msg1587 date=1319815160]
I am trying to get a couple of googs together and fish there November 14-15. I am assuming that the target will be redfish. I love me some sheephead though, and have caught them before in the bay on shrimp. Do you fish for them like you do the specs - shrimp on the bottom with small test line?


[/quote]

Pretty close but most of the time, I try to target them around pilings or sight cast near them. Usually not so much with a big weight, just enough to get the bait down to them. I did awesome on them this last year on 6# thanks to Pier#r's advice.

That's right!

Quote:

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I'm going to give you a little advice. There's a force in the universe that makes things happen. And all you have to do is get in touch with it, stop thinking, let things happen, and be the sheepshead.

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:headbang:

Are there good numbers of reds? What are some of the best ways to catch them during this time?

I'd also like to know the limit on reds? I know there is a slot too. I take it you can keep 10 spanish?

Here's a link to all the bag limits: http://www.outdooralabama.com/images/file/Size_bag%20limits(1).pdf
Redfish is a 3 bag limit with a slot of 16-26 with one oversized allowed. Spanish macks are 15 per person. So you can feed the whole family plus some if you want. The redfish are just starting to come in with good numbers. I also catch a ton in the surf this time a year if you target them. Redfish you can catch one live bait or cut bait on bottom or by allowing freelined or snobbled bait to sink a little deeper. I also see a ton caught on jigs and spoons sightcasting into schools and following fish.