What do you think it was?Are we doin it right?

We are vacationers and fishing the pier.We aren't too experienced.Today at the pier i took a hard tail with a 2 ft steel liter w 2 ounce weight and 30 lb test line and threw out as far as I could.It sat on bottom for 10 min and something took and ran hard.We fought it for 5 min and it broke off 30lb braid line.I know there is no def answer but with all y'all's experience,what would you say it was?Shark?King?Jack?..Also,saw guys catching reds in the shallows.Are they using spoons?If so how do you jig it?Slow or fast?Any feedback would help.We are tired of catching bait fish and baby catfish..We like kings Ofcourse.Should I fish on bottom with them?Use a bobber?

Likely a shark, but who knows? Was the line broken or cut? That is, did it have a frazzeled end or nipped of cleanly? Was it taking line or did you have it locked down tight?

It was taking line like a whale.Have a nice penn real that is strong but it was no match.Had the drag set so it could take line if it needed to but still strong enough to still real it in..It almost spooled the whole line.Yes it frayed the line.How about the redfish questions?

+ 1 likely a shark (* forensic report of frayed line and description of pull*)

Most of those redfish in the shallows will be caught on LYs (live or cut dead), or other small minnows (bull minnow, finger mullet, baby spot croaker, etc.)
or with a sand flea, or piece of shrimp fished on bottom.

I usually get a few on small spoons (less than 1/2 ounce) this time of year as that imitates the small LYs they like to feed on in the shallows.
So does everything else though and you will get a LOT of small jacks, bluefish and ladyfish but a nice red every now and then.
Cast out past the fish, let it fall to the bottom, lift the rod with a few flicks of your wrist and let it fall back toward the bottom (that's usually when a strike comes).
If not, take up the slack line and repeat the process until you can no longer keep the lure in contact with the bottom.

Hope this helps!

If you put a weight on your line that takes the hardtail (or other live bait fish) down to the bottom, the hardtail dies and is then a less attractive prey item for kings. Currents can partially bury your bait as well. Sharks will still patrol the bottom and take that bait, but that's about all. If you want to catch kings, don't weigh the baitfish down - let him (the hardtail, live scaled sardine or other live baitfish) swim. You don't need a float! You need a good quality treble hook (sharp!), the previously described wire leader, and a barrel swivel (not a snap swivel). This fishing is done near the END of the pier. You'll rarely catch kings in skinny water. Hold onto your rod and watch where your line goes. You want to keep it from tangling up the other guys and sometimes a baitfish has a mind of its own and just wants to mess with you.

When you want to switch to fishing for reds, closer to the surf, you can keep the same set-up, just replace the wire leader with (for mostly slot reds) about 15 lb florocarbon leader on a j-hook or circle hook if you're using bait. you may want to use only about 1/4 oz egg sinker above the swivel. Reds don't have sharp teeth, so you don't need wire for them.

Mostly likely a shark or a big ray if it was on the bottom.

Ok so take the weight off for kings.Thanks.We are going early in the a.m. and I pray we do well.These boys got bored after the 54th bait fish was caught.Thanks again

free swimming LY and keep a eye on it, they like swimming back under the pier.... might have to freshen the bait as you cast and they die to keep them in the strike zone that sometimes in close to the pier on the corners ....if others are using float that is also a good way to keep them closer to the surface
and very loose drag for the first run

I have hooked a cobia fishing this same way. We were sharking 1 night on the old pier I had a 4 foot leader,3 ounce egg weight,and live hard tail when the cobia grabbed it . I thought it was a shark boy was I surprised when I got it to the pier

Kings are a blast to catch but bites can be very SLOW. You may try to break it up a little by targeting whiting up in the surf with small pieces of fresh dead shrimp. They will also catch some baby jacks, hardtails and maybe a stray slot red or puppy drum. Good luck!