How to Fish for Mackerel from a Pier

If you don't have access to a boat, pier fishing is the next best thing; in fact, there are some advantages to pier fishing. One is cost; boat ownership can cost hundreds of dollars in registration fees and fuel, and chartering can also be costly. Another advantage is visibility; the height of a pier lets a fisherman see further into the sea. If you're trying to catch mackerel from a pier, the most effective method is float fishing.

Things You'll Need

  • Fishing line
  • Knife
  • Fishing rod
  • 1/4-inch piece of electrical tubing
  • 2 plastic beads
  • Float
  • Weight
  • Swivel
  • Hook
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Instructions

    • 1

      Cut a 1-foot piece of fishing line off of your reel and set it aside.

    • 2

      Pull about 2 feet of line off the end of your fishing rod.

    • 3

      Feed the line through the electrical tubing, then loop it back and feed it through again. This will form a stop knot that prevents the floating rig from sinking.

    • 4

      Slide one of the beads onto the line.

    • 5

      Slide the float onto the line, slide the weight onto the line, then slide the other bead onto the line.

    • 6

      Tie the swivel onto the end of the line.

    • 7

      Tie the hook to one end of the piece of spare line you cut from your reel and tie the other end to the swivel.