Here in SoCal, We have so many wonderful public piers that have a great diversity of fishing conditions such as kelp, rock/reef,and sandy bottoms to choose from.

Here in Oceanside, we have a wonderful public pier that is nearly 1900 ft long with a really nice sandy bottom with heavy to moderate surf. ( Hold many surfing championships here)

Anyway, my question is:

Does anyone up or down the coast cast swimbaits from piers in say 5 to 25 or 30 ft. of water with any success for Flatties? I can't wait to try the techniques from the beach that I have read here but was just wondering about the pier situation. Sorry to ramble.

Any info would be appreciated.

Thanks,

Aztecwin.

Aztecwin

I've done it with some success. I used 4 and 5 inch Big Hammers on 1/2 or 3/4 oz heads (usually 3/4 oz.). Use a reel/stop/hit bottom, reel/stop/hit bottom retrieve like I describe in my "Hammering Inshore Halibut" article (http://www.swimbait.com/halibut-wolf.htm) but on the pier lean over the rail and hold the rod down. Yeah, I know, it's not the perfect hook setting position but trust me on this one. The closer you can get the rod tip to the water the better (even a few feet helps). When you get bit slowly reel keeping very light pressure on the fish while bringing the rod tip slowly up. Once you get just past horizontal (and the fish is still there) swing.

You can fish regularly (holding the more horizontally) and it'll work. I just found this method to work a little better.

As for colors check out the "Inshore Halibut Kits" here:
http://www.swimbait.com/kits.htm

Leapin Bass,

Thanks for your prompt reply!

I'm pretty well loaded up on the hammers and I love the results I've been getting with them.

Would you suggest fishing an early morning and late afternoon high tide?

Also, would one be better trying the shallow (5ft or less) or deeper water surf say right outside the breaker line?

Your technique is one that , when a kid, I used for Bonito and Barracuda with feather jigs and it worked real well for me.

Thanks,

Aztecwin.

Aztecwin

Time of day doesn't seem to matter much, I've caught them all day long. Not as much at night. Generally, I try and fish in the morning just because there is usually less wind in the morning. Tides seem to depend on what beach you're fishing. Some beaches fish better at low tide and some seem to fish better approaching the high tide.

Try both depths, start shallow (in the waves) and work your way out.

Good luck!

Try the new Storm Lures
I fish the 4" size close to shore - 5" out a little deeper
My fishing buddies and I recently scored on quite a few shorts
and nailed 1-22", 1-23" & 1-25" off goleta Pier on them.
This did not happen on one outing, Over many afterwork gatherings.

I nailed one last week on my yak - 27.5" with the 5" Storm

Best of all they cost about $4.00 for a pack of 6-4" 4-5" at Walmart
Already rigged with a hook and weight inside the body

Check out the WildEye SwimBait Shad @ WWW.stormlures.com

I've never liked the kind of swimbaits where the head is buried inside the body - especially when fishing for toothy critters. I have a couple of questions about the Storm baits. Do all the baits come already rigged? If so what do you do with the lead head after the bait gets torn up? If not how easy are they to rig?

Yes the leadhead is molded inside, and yes they are "disposable" swimbaits. Having said that I've found some of them still good. Some of them are very realistic looking, others you wonder what they were smoking. I've tried 3 paccks with 1 doing great on bass and sqawfish and the other 2 needing help or Circular filing. The Saltwater sized ones seem to plane-out to easy when I want to speed up.

Tight lines,
Wade

Tight lines,
Wade

Wade,

Cool - thanks. I was just curious. A lot of guys use them and like them. I just never got into them (and now have no reason to).

Pete