Dania Pier Pompanos and Jack Crevalles 3-16-14

March 17, 2014 by cudamanadventures

A get together was planned by Joey AKA Grunt King of http://www.Boatlessfishing.com a site dedicated to those that do not own boats and fish mostly from land. The site was created around 2006 with the idea of getting people together to help each other with fishing strategies from land. If you haven’t check it out yet you should, there are many non boaters and boaters that share their knowledge and help others as much as they can. After the meet I decided to pass by Dania Pier which was only a few minutes away I wanted to see what was being caught at the pier.

Some of the members that were there as I was getting ready to leave.

Members of http://www.boatlessfishing.com trade fishing stories while our wives talk.

It had been quiet a while since the last time I visited Dania Pier. The last time I was there was at a memorial for the legendary Zebco a boatlessfishing.com member whom passed from this life to his resting place due to health problems. My thoughts are always with him when I visit this pier. He used to work there and was always helping those that he considered were worthy of help and with others he would just make their life a little difficult but non the less he was a great fisherman and great at building rods himself and catching pompanos. Any time there was an Easterly wind he was at a fishing pier where the pompanos where running.

A look at Dania Pier, Florida

A view of Dania Beach, Florida from the parking lot.

A look at the entrance of Dania Pier, Florida

A look at some anglers fishing mid pier for Pompano fish.

A look at the “T” of the pier. There is a small hut to help cover a few anglers from the elements.

The rods are line up to catch Pompano in the afternoon. A few schools of fish showed up around 6:30 a.m. and 9:30 a.m. after that it was a waiting games and a few fish in between.

My lovely wife watching the horizon from the pier.

An angler has fish on and his fight begins. On the first try he lost it due to tangles with other fishermen lines. Some people just won’t move their rods out of the way for others.

The angle got his second chance and this time he had no trouble as others cleared their rods out of the way or let their lines slack so there would be no tension on the line with the fish. Below a picture showing the angler trying to avoid other fishing lines by lifting his fishing rod as much as possible while keeping pressure on the fish.

The bait used by many anglers, a Threadfin Herring

The angler with his catch, a nice size Jack Crevalle for the area.

Bait Fishing at Anglins Pier 10-6-13

October 6, 2013 by cudamanadventures

THE FISHING TRIP: Bait scouting
The Spot : Anglins Pier at the end of Commercial Blv in Lauderdale By The Seas, FL
Weather : South southeast winds 6 to 11 knots. Seas less than 2 feet
Water: Clear then started to brown from canal water being released, but not so bad
Fish catches: Blue runners and butter fish
Techniques : Crappie igs and small silver spoons

This weekend was an idle weekend for me, it was about resting up a bit and scouting for bait. I decided to go to Anglins pier since it offers comfort for my wife and daughter whom kept me some company on this trip. Got there 3 hour before sunrise and waited for the sun to come up. When I arrived there were small pods of finger mullets getting smashed by some snook and people had been catching bluefish. The kind of bait I was after doesn’t come to the pier when there are too many blue fish since these are voracious predators and will continuously harass the bait day or night. Even though bluefish is a bait I can use by the time I got there all the action died down so my only choice was to wait for sunrise and hope for some blue runners and Spanish mackerel to arrive or hope for the bluefish to return. The sunrise came up and only the blue runners and white baits were present. Since I’m going on a 3.5 day fishing trip on Captain Yuri’s boat headed to the Dry Tortugas in 3 weeks, I am in need of oily baits so I was only after blue runners, small jacks crevalles, spanish mackerel, blue fish, and the such. At night it was just a few pickings of blue runners and lots of the ever annoying lookdown fish. the water started to get a nice color and the blue runner started coming in but died down almost as soon as they got there. The water started to get a brownish hue to it and lots of cow fish started to show up so I decided to try again another day. I did not want to take more blue runners than I was actually going to use. I like to keep a balanced amount of bait. A couple dozen blue runners, dork jacks, only about 2 or 3 blue fish, a good half dozen Spanish mackerels, at least a dozen of google eyes, and a dozen of speedos all caught within three weeks before a trip. The the fresh bait that will include bait caught three days before the trip; pinfish, about 6″ to as big as I can get blue runners, spanish mackerels, goggle eyes, blue fish, barracudas, ballyhoos, and on the day of scaled sardines and thread-fin herrings since these loose their quality too soon. These are only some of the baits I use, for other baits that have come in handy you should read my fishing reports as I always leave an Easter egg tip laying around in between all the writing I do. My way of helping people fish but not giving all away in a simple list. Here are some pics from today:

Jigs I normally use to catch most of my baits

Below are some baits vacuumed packed and ready for my old bait freezer at -10 degrees

Went Back on 10-12-13

Well my nephew’s best friend wanted to go fishing so I told him Anglins pier was good to catch some blue runners for fun and I wanted to get a few other baits as well. So we met up at my nephew’s house and arrived at Anglings at 4 am. Went to the lights and started catching some runners other baits were not present but was told that the macks were running the day before so I was hoping for a better day this time around. As we were close to shore trying for baits we were catching too many baby pompanos so we decided to move over tot the “T” (the end of the pier). When we got to the T there were plenty blue runners but all were on the small side. I was hoping for bigger size one so I could chunk and or use their innards for mutton bait in the Dry Tortugas while fishing on Captain Yuri’s boat. I have always had great luck while using blue runners that were no more than a few weeks old. My nephew his son and friends had a ball catching the runners. I also met up with Nilson a friend that will be fishing with us on Captain Yuri’s Boat. This day we ended with more than enough runners for all six fishing in that trip. Here are some pics from that day.

Small Pompano

A nice sunrise as always

My nephew’s son with his priced blue runners on crappy jigs

Florida Wildlife Commision officers (FWC) telling a diver to stay 300 feet from the pier. It is extremely dangerous for them to be there not only will they get tangle with the fishing lines but also may get hit by a fishing rig since the fishermen don’t really know where the divers might be, sometimes their flag rope is too long and the bubbles get carried by the currents.

Here are the runners before the saltwater was added for a slush to brine them.

Anglins Pier – 4th of July

July 6, 2013 by cudamanadventures

My wife and I decided to go to the beach, do a little fishing, and then watch the fireworks from Anglins pier at Lauderdale By The Sea. We got close to it and the lines for a parking space got going until I finally got to the pier’s parking area.

Fireworks seeing from Anglins Pier at Lauderdale By The Sea

Well, I forgot that they raise the parking rate when there is a special occasion such as watching the fireworks to celebrate the independence of our great nation the United States of America. And they do so by doubling the regular price. It was $20 bucks!!!! Oh my it is still hurting my pockets! I could have bought a nice lure or a couple of leader wheels. Well, thinking about it it was well worth the increase if you count a mile walking to the the pier in the middle of intoxicated people asking “hey man, are you going fishing to the pier?” I got a couple to ask that question at the parking lot and as I was already in the pier. I wonder what made the ask that question? Was it the fishing cart and the fishing rods in it? Or was it the alcohol or who knows what that makes people ask the weirdest questions? LOL, people were having fun and so I really don’t mind as long as they don’t start touching my stuff asking if they can fish with it. By the way entrance to fish at the pier is $7.00 and if you forget your weights then for a 5 ounce weight it is $2.00 so don’t forget any terminal tackle or be ready to pay a premium for it. Well, we got to the pier and saw how windy it was so we decided to head straight to the pier and skip the crowded beach. As we entered the pier I asked my wife to stop for a second so we could snap some pictures. The crowd was rolling in the high waves on one side and on the other the surfers were enjoying the waves. What a nice day for shark fishing and here I was with mackerel and snapper gear 😦

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Once we got pass the middle shelter we started fishing for bait. There was no white bait only dork jacks a few small blue runners and some spottail pinfish. I spoke with some of the kids that frequent the pier looking for some toothy critters with fins and they said it had been slow for the past couple of days. As we kept on getting bait my wife got some moonfish that were released and as I kept getting more we decided to move to the T. Some very happily cocktail drinking tourists were there and this particular one kept on saying “this man is ganna catch a biiig one, hip! Just look, look he is fishing with shiners, hip! He is gonna catch a biiig fiiish!” I smiled and explained that I was fishing with dork jacks and was looking to get some bonitos or maybe some summer bluefish and as I was saying so my reel started going, but it ended being a vicious hound fish. It had swallowed the whole dork jack.

The second fish hit a small morsel on my light rod, I was fishing with a Troll Right jig and a piece of a spottail pinfish. It was intended for any snapper under the pier. Well, it wasn’t no snapper. After a small run a Tarpon jumped halfway out the water and shook the jig off as some of the tourists were going “woooow!” I guess not many get to see a Tarpon jumping mid air. So I decided to play a little and setup my 30 pound test rod and reel with a barbless circle hook, I place a nice size spottail pinfish on it and sent it on it’s way. My wife was ready with the camera and was trying to snap a few pics but it just wouldn’t take them since the camera was on auto and it was getting dark. As the Tarpon took the bait and jumped 3 times we could hear the tourists going uuuuuuhhhh!!!! ahhhhhh!!! woooow!!! The only pic my wife was able to get was a pic of the Tarpon’s behind saying good bye to us.

It was a great day at the pier, we had some fun talking to the tourist from other states and to the local tourists as well. We enjoyed the fireworks and took some video of it. Below is a small quick video of the fireworks so you get the idea.

Newport Pier In Miami – Dade Opened June 15th, 2013

June 24, 2013 by cudamanadventures

Showing the length of the pier

The Newport pier located in Sunny Isles Beach, FL (Miami-Dade County) has been finished. The opening ceremony of the new pier was on June 15th. The previous Newport Pier was destroyed by Hurricane Wilma in 2005. The opening of the pier was celebrated on the 15th of June with fireworks dancing and much more, too bad I missed all of it. The fishing pier is said to be more than 700 feet long. The entrance as of now is free until they finish the bait shop and hire somebody which means that the pier will be full most of the time. As with many free fishing piers I am expecting it to be packed with tourists, googans, and some fishermen. I just hope that drunks do not take much part of the fishing pier while it is free. It is very annoying to deal with intoxicated individuals. This pier has gone through so many changes already and I hope this one is for the best. It was burnt down in the early 80’s, then shut down by Hurricanes like Hurricane Andrew several times. But like a phoenix it always finds a way to rise from the ashes and each time a bit different that the last. One thing that hardly ever changes is the old Newport Hotel building behind it and it’s savior most of the time. I wish Haulover Pier had a savior, but no, the city did not want to invest on a new build after Hurricane Andre knocked it down. Sigh, memories of the past I guess. With the newly built pier we will have some more elbow room at other piers, some tackle shops will be enjoying the extra business and some fish will join someones dinner table. I just hope the people fishing this pier while it has no attendants will be honest people and will only take their allowed limits by law. It is a long shot of hope but at least let’s think positive.

This is the pier where I first heard the word Googan, well, Chief Nick or Mike (the pier attendants) stamped it bright red on unknown fishermen’s hands or wrists so that others would know to stay at a distance and avoid a sinkers going the wrong way or a massive tangle from someone casting their lines sideways instead of straight ahead or with the currents direction. This was always a great mackerel and snook pier. Off course other fish like barracudas, king mackerel, snapper, drums, permit, grunts, bluefish, bonitos, blue runners, sharks, tarpon, etc… would be caught, but it was always known for the great mackerel runs and the snook coming out to the beaches to mate in the summer months and to catch the warmth of the lights in the winter months. Back in the day before the beach re nourishment the pier sat at a good depth and there were reef lines where the snappers congregated, not much grouper other than the normal giant Jewfish from those days would come around. After the re nourishment those formations were complete covered with sand and so the snapper fishing became a slow one with the exception of the stormy days when the snappers would get very close to the pier after a storm passed through the area.

Long live the past days when a cork and a strip of belly bait was let into the currents to catch the all mighty running demon of the piers, when the salty dogs ruled the artificial lures on the beaches, mangrove lines, bridges, and piers. long live the days when a McDonald’s straw, a 1/4 ounce weight, and a long shank hook was a perfect lure to catch a pier demon runner, when a bass worm hook was heavily used to free line a sardine belly strip, when a piece of broom stick and a treble hook were good enough to catch a blue fish. Well enough of the past. Let’s talk about the present.

Sunny Isles, FL Newport Pier is now open

This new pier seems to be built like the Titanic, but instead of metal it is a great looking solid concrete construction. I am no engineer but can tell you that I did not see room for water to flow through the middle of the pier in case of a big surge. In other words if we get a hurricane and big water surges upwards, it will be slamming against the belly of the pier like a hammer trying to punch a nail from under a plank. I did see a hump on the middle of the pier where water can be guided by the contour of the pier’s belly. I hope these engineers/architects did it right. Another thing I noticed was the railings. They added wheelchair access through the whole pier’s fishing area. These will also be great for kids as you can lower a section of the railing. I do not know how long these will last since corrosion is already present on most of the hinges. And yes I did write fishing area, you can only fish from a painted yellow line in mid pier to the pier’s T shape end. I was told that when the police came in to patrol the area a day before me writing this report they told a fisherman who was bringing in a barracuda to cut the line off with the fish on and to move to the other side of the yellow line afterwards. I really never understood why police and wildlife officers tell that to people. I don’t think they should, just let the person bring the fish in and then give them a ticket when they have landed it. Please don’t tell them to cut the line off and leave a fish with 50 or 100 feet of mono- filament line hanging on it’s mouth. the bait and fish cleaning tables look of professional grade. They also have water hoses through out the pier. The old bait wells were not replaced so you will have to take a drop down bucket with you if you do not intend on having a bucket or live well with an air pump or a live well pump. Another thing that was unusual for a pier here in South Florida is that they decided to built fishing rod holders on the railings. these look great as a rod holder and look like aluminum bars covered with PVC pipes and then painted, at least I hope that’s how they were built. I would not trust PVC pipes alone to do the job. There are some nice size tarpons that will frequent that pier and they will make a big enough run to brake a PVC pipe, and especially one that is used over and over as a rod holder.

On to the fishing, the day I went there were no signs of bait and so you know when there is no bait there are not many predators close by. Since this is a standing structure you do get the occasional predator that comes close by and investigates. I threw a few casts with ghost x raps, white buck tails, side winders, and crappie jigs to get a mack’s or blue runners attention since these were the fish that had been caught the prior day. I had a mack follow up the side winder and one sky rocket through the air as well. The ghost x rap lure got a follow up and a baby blue runner that I donated for bait. I was only there for a couple of hours since I just wanted to see the pier.

Here are some pictures of the Newport Pier for you to enjoy. just hoover over with your mouse pointer to see a description.