mmontelongo
Creator
Finding the Perfect Pier Spot Under the LightsAt this stage in my life, I mostly target speckled trout, and one of my favorite ways to chase them is under the pier lights at night. It’s like clockwork – the baitfish gather around those lights for safety, the same way humans once huddled around a fire to keep an eye out for predators. But just because there’s a light in the water doesn’t mean it’s holding fish.
Here’s how I find my spot:
1. Listen for PopsFirst and most obvious: popping. If you’ve never heard a speckled trout pop, cup your hand and smack your belly button – that hollow thump is almost identical. The noise comes from trout rapidly opening their large mouths to create suction and inhale baitfish near the surface, creating that signature pop. When I hear this, I know trout are actively feeding right there.
2. Look for Bubble RingsThey aren’t always making noise, especially when it’s windy and loud on the pier, so I look for bubble rings. Tiny bubbles scattered are good, but a ring pattern of small bubbles on the surface tells me a trout just popped there. That’s a visual confirmation I can cast into with confidence.
3. Watch for CrabsLastly, I always throw to areas crawling with crabs. Crabs are the bay’s janitors – if trout or other predators are eating and leaving scraps, the crabs are cleaning it up. Where there are crabs, there’s a buffet happening nearby.
Next time you’re pier fishing at night, take a second to scout each light before settling down. Listen, watch, and read the signs nature is giving you – it’ll save you hours of casting into dead water.
Call to action:What signs do you look for before setting up under a pier light? Drop your tactics below – let’s keep learning from each other out here.