I have only surf fished with premade whiting or pompano rigs.I may try pier fishing on my next Fla trip.What is your go-to rig for either one?
Plenty of great members down there that I am sure will have good tips! - john
So I'm very fond of a version of the Carolina rig. If you're fishing mono, the equivalent would be the knocker rig.
The idea of a Carolina rig is a sliding weight with about 2' or so of play that allows you to feel even a small hit. Beads on either side of the weight prevent it from either passing the knot or beating it up. The knocker rig is similar but there isn't the back knot so it has more play.
I'm sure there's a better write up somewhere. I'll try to take some pics.
IMO the bait is more important than the rig. Feed 'em what they are eating. In NC we use rigs that have a light orange deco of some sort which mimics female sand flea egg pouch, pomps' fav. Then, a sandflea for bait when available or a small piece of skrimp, shell on, with a piece of fishbite EZ Flea cut into a 1" pennant shape over the skrimp. looks like a sand flea and taste good. Whiting, black drum, flounder, reds, blues, sheephead, trout have all come up on a simple hi-lo rig using this.
John
What pier ? What depth ?
Bottom
Stuff ?
I fish gulf shores pier in AL
A streamer sabiki (40lb main line)
Smaller sabiki for bait fish
Small trebles, size 6 or 8 to fly line needle fish
Cut sabiki in half if you find 6 hooks are not manageable
Ormond,Vilano Beach, Amelia Island fla.probably later it's closer
Have you seen any of the Larry Finch videos? He is a commercial fisherman and wins alot of pompano tournaments:
https://www.floridastateparks.org/parks-and-trails/george-crady-bridge-fishing-pier-state-park