Nothing beats the pleasure of walking out onto the nearest pier, baiting a hook, and dropping your line into the water. This sounds like a deceptively simple pastime, but in fact there are many insider tips and techniques that can make pier fishing both more enjoyable and far more successful. Readers are provided with privileged information known only to lifelong fishing enthusiasts regarding the optimum gear, tackle, poles, reels, bait, lures, clothing, conditions, techniques, and safety precautions. Armed with this time-tested wisdom and lore, readers will not only know how to spend a day on the pier pleasantly but also safely and successfully with a big haul. While their resulting big fish stories may be slightly exaggerated, this guide will minimize tales of the one that got away.