What’s up, dock?

Many docks hold fish, and there are thousands of docks along the Intracoastal Waterway and the rivers and creeks that intersect it. Some hold more fish than others, but all have potential and deserve at least a look-see.

Docks are easy to find; fishermen can see them regardless of the tide stage. Some are simple wooden structures to get from land to water deep enough for a boat, and some are ornate complex structures with sun decks, gazebos and more.

Whether large or small, the pilings serve to break the flow of current and they offer attachment points for oysters, barnacles, grasses and other marine life, which in turn provide cover for small fish and crabs. One of the latest trends in dock construction is to use cables and hurricane anchors to tie the dock down for extra storm protection, and these provide more places for oysters, barnacles, grasses and other marine life to attach and build habitat.

In addition to breaking the flow of the current, docks provide shade and are a focal point for localized food chains. Sometimes, the difference between fishing and catching is as simple as being able to cast the bait far enough under the dock that it reaches the shade.

Typically, larger docks hold more and larger fish. This begins with more pilings to create more disruption to the current. Other factors also contribute to making docks better for fishing. Docks with cleaning tables add another dimension; when fishermen clean fish and drop the remains back into the water, they create a baseline or a food chain and stimulate its development.

Docks with sun decks and gazebos that are frequently used also tend to hold more fish than bare docks — and they should. These docks require more pilings, and the human activity on them usually results in food being spilled into the water and extra food being cast overboard, and these contribute to building the food chain.

The bottom line is that docks tend to hold fish, and some docks do it better than others. When learning to fish an area, all docks have potential, but when your time is short, concentrating on docks that have features that should attract fish will usually boost your catch.