Anglers enjoy fishing at N.C. piers because fish and friends are plentiful, and it beats the costs of operating a boat.
“Dean. Somebody get Dean. He’s got one on.”
The loud cry came from an excited fisherman at the end of Ocean Crest Pier one summer morning.
The angler was calling for Dean Brown to come and retrieve his rod and screaming reel, which had a fleeing king mackerel at its business end.
Springing up with a spryness that belied his years, Brown ended his break at a shaded seat at the pier’s end and raced to grab his rod and wailing reel. His timing was good; Brown had the outfit in hand and ready before the king paused at the end of its first run. The line never developed any slack, which might have lost the fish.
After peeling line off the reel for several minutes and taking the bait a few hundred yards offshore, the king mackerel began to tire and allowed Brown to begin leading it toward the end of the wooden fishing platform at Oak Island.
That’s the time when tension builds as it’s the most dangerous part of fighting a king from a pier. The fish must be led through the other fishing lines, yet can’t be brought in so quickly it dashes through the pilings and cuts the line on barnacles.
With the help and encouragement of other anglers, Brown worked his outfit around a few others to where he could lead the tiring king straight to the pier. Meanwhile, several of his friends positioned themselves on each side of him with gaffs suspended from ropes. Before allowing itself to be led those last few feet, the king saw the pilings and offered a final surge of resistance.
“He’s almost there,” said one of the gaffers. “Bring him another couple of feet and I’ve got him.”
Brown used his rod tip and a little more pressure to ease the tired king a little closer to the pier and the gaffer got his shot. As soon as the king moved above the large four-way collection of weighted hooks the gaffer held, suspended just underneath the surface, the man jerked upward and impaled the king. The fish struggled and turned the water to a froth for a few seconds to no use. He was securely impaled and ready to be hoisted to the pier deck.
As the king was swung over the railing, a broad grin spread across Brown’s sunburned face.
He’d caught his first king mackerel. And he was about to lose his shirttail in a long-standing tradition at Ocean Crest Pier. But Brown definitely wasn’t upset and said he was looking forward to the ceremony. In a few minutes, his shirttail would join a collection of more than 200 hanging from the pierhouse wall.
After admiring his catch for a few minutes while catching his breath and accepting congratulations from the other anglers at the pier’s tee, Brown began the long walk in to the pierhouse to have his catch weighed and recorded. He would surrender his shirttail before returning.
The word of the latest “mack attack“ is what had brought Brown to Ocean Crest Pier (www.oceancrestpier.net, 910-278-6674). The good news rapidly spread across the state and among the anglers who consider Ocean Crest Pier a home away from home. In a couple of days, the crowd at the end of the pier had grown from less than a dozen to almost 40 anglers. Most were fishermen with a minimum of one season under their belts, but there were also some newbies, such as Brown. They gathered at the end of the pier to practice a sport that brings a special fire to their voices, a spirited bounce to their steps and is a controlling passion in what they do during most of their off-work hours.
The king mackerel bite had started the previous Wednesday morning. By Thursday more fishermen had arrived and when the bite continued, the crowd doubled by Friday afternoon. By the weekend, it had more than tripled.
Saturday had been a slow fishing day until late. Then, with a rising tide and a wind switch to the southwest, the kings reappeared.
Sunday morning the sun rose with the first king anglers already on the pier and selecting their favorite positions. By early morning, all the offshore-facing fishing positions at the end of the pier were taken. King rigs also circled most of the side positions.
The gathered fishermen had the look of a family reunion as most knew each other and renewed friendships.
The Sunday bite was almost as good as they crowd of anglers had hoped. It wasn’t one of the days of double-digit catches that happen occasionally, but they landed seven mackerel. The kings seemed to come in waves throughout the morning and early afternoon.
Bob Davis hooked and landed another king before Brown returned from the pierhouse — minus his shirttail.
Fishermen who pursue kings and other big-game fish from the piers face several challenges and have developed special-suited tackle and tactics.
The first task is to secure their baitfish in the water so they don’t tangle. They solve that problem by using two rod- and-reel outfits in tandem, commonly called a “trolley” rig.
The first rod and reel secures an anchor line used to tether a baitfish, which is presented on a second line so it can swim but not wander. When a king strikes, the second outfit, or fighting line, breaks free from the anchor line and the king runs with the baitfish while the anchor line remains in position.
A surf-fishing outfit is the standard rig for an anchor line. It holds a heavy storm sinker at the end and is cast straight away and as far from the pier as possible. Once the sinker is secure, the anchor rod is placed in a rod holder on the pier and the line is reeled taught.
Pier king fishermen typically prefer a fighting outfit that is slightly heavier than boat fishermen use for live bait fishing for kings. Stand-up style rods have become popular, with a fairly even split between those preferring rollers (at least roller tips) and those preferring ring guides.
Conventional reels are preferred with a wide variety of brands and a roughly equal mixture of star and lever drags. Most fighting outfits are 30-pound-class combos, with some larger reels spooled with 30-pound-test line. Monofilament is the preferred line.
While pier anglers basically use rigs made with wire leaders and treble hooks, regional and personal differences abound. Stranded or single-stand wire may be used for terminal tackle.
The purpose of the rig is to suspend the bait in a (as close as possible) natural manner. Pier fishing obviously is different from trolling, and rigs are designed to suspend baitfishes from above, not lead them from the nose. Some rigs include a hook at the bait’s head while others position hooks from the shoulder and farther back.
Most N.C. piers allow king fishing, but a few don’t. It would be wise to check a pier’s regulations before planning a trip. The fee for a king-fishing permit also is slightly higher than for other types of fishing but includes exclusive rights to the offshore end (the “T” of the pier).
At Ocean Crest 2008 daily rates are $9 for regular pier fishing and $14.50 for kingfishing. This magazine contains pier-fishing discount coupons. Seniors and children usually receive discounts as well. An annual pier pass is $167.50 for standard fishing and $225 for kings. Piers also offer discounts for three- to seven-day passes that may be used during non-consecutive days.
“We strive to make fishing from Ocean Crest Pier a positive experience,” said Dave Cooper, the pier’s operator/manager. “We’re fortunate to have a location near some good bottom and in an area the kings like.
“We also keep a lot of hooks (with bait) in the water on a daily basis and believe this adds to our attraction to the fish. I believe (multiple baitfish in the water) appears (to kings) to be schools of fish, and it’s consistently in the same location. Over time, the fish probably remember (the pier) is a place to come for a meal.”
In keeping with their dedication to king fishermen, Ocean Crest Pier maintains a community bait tank at its end. Fishermen jig or catch baitfish with cast nets and add them to the tank while waiting for strikes. The overflow from the bait tank also carries the scent of baitfish and serves as a chum source, so it’s little wonder kings and other predators are attracted to the pier.
Cooper said when he began working at Ocean Crest pier, Oak Island had two other piers. Since then, Long Beach Pier has been removed to allow for development, and Yaupon Pier has been closed after a partnership ended and a local bank foreclosed on a loan.
Many N.C. piers recently have closed to allow for development or suffered hurricane damage and haven’t been rebuilt. Cooper said the costs of operating a pier have grown, but he plans to be in the pier business for a while.
Currently the future is bright for king mackerel fishing at Ocean Crest Pier. Anglers don’t have to worry about the cost of operating a boat. The daily cost is similar to buying three or four gallons of gasoline, an affordable alternative.
Pier king fishing also has a surprisingly consistent track record. Anyone who tries king mackerel fishing at Ocean Crest Pier should be prepared to add a shirttail to Cooper’s collection.
Consider it the induction ceremony into the fraternity of pier kingfishers. The meetings are informal and held at the end of the pier. Unlike many organizations, anglers always want to attend.
Ocean Crest Pier is also recognized for outstanding catches of other species. Fishermen regularly land good catches of trout, flounder, whiting (sea mullet or Virginia mullet), Spanish mackerel, bluefish and other fishes. The pier displays photographs of top catches on the pierhouse walls and at its web site (www.oceancrestpier.net).
Ocean Crest Pier hosts several tournaments each year for non-boaters, including six scheduled for 2008. Three king mackerel tournaments are slated. The Rebel King Tournament was held May 2-4 and won by Frank Riego of Raleigh with a 21-pound king that earned the angler $1,780.
Other tournaments include a pair of youth tournaments and one open, multiple-species tournament.
For more information about Ocean Crest Pier tournaments, visit its Web site, www.oceancrestpier.net, or call (910) 278-6674.
For anyone wishing to try catching a king mackerel who doesn’t own a boat or wants to avoid high fuel prices, it’s possible to catch a king mackerel, even a large one, from a pier.
Most N.C. piers offer king fishing, but during the past five seasons, Ocean Crest Pier has stood head and shoulders above other state piers in numbers of kings caught. During 2008 it already has a huge lead.
Cooper will tell anyone who calls with an inquiry what he or she needs for equipment and best times to visit.
Just be prepared to leave a shirttail for him to add to the pier’s collection from first timers who have scored with their first king at Ocean Crest Pier.
Be the first to comment