If there is one pattern that anglers can always count on it has to be dock fishing. Dock fishing produces plenty of action year round whether it is winter-time sheephead or late evening dock light fishing during the summer for speckled trout or snook. Docks truly are the consummate fish magnet!
Docks are their own little eco-systems… simple forms of marine life such as barnacles, invertebrates, and even oysters call docks home and attract various types of forage (crabs, minnows, pinfish) that game fish eat. The list of game fish that can be caught around docks include snappers, groupers, flounder, trout, black drum, redfish, snook, jack crevalle, sheephead, and the list goes on and on… because there is always a feeding opportunity associated with docks.
When are docks a play you ask? Almost always in my opinion, especially when water temperatures are too cold or too hot on the flats. Or when there seems to be more angling pressure such as holidays, weekends, or during local tournaments because the docks are often overlooked. The key is making a commitment to fishing dock structure and finding a double-handful of these fish magnets that will produce when the traditional shallow water fishing is a little slow. Dock fishing is not for everyone, it will take several trips to find the right docks that prove to be consistent over time… don’t give up after 15 or 20 docks; I fish 50 plus docks some days when using artificials!
Here’s what I look for when fishing around dock structure. I like to target older docks with good barnacle growth on the pilings… and the ramshackle or busted-up storm docks are even better most of the time! I also look for good depth… docks that have at least five feet of depth usually hold better fish in my experience. But then again, shallower docks often hold good numbers of fish in the zones between the docks… especially the shorelines with plenty of sea grass, oyster bars, and sandy potholes. Another clue are docks that have larger vessels that make washout holes in the sea bottom below their props… the increased depth in the washout holes give predators a place to rest out of the current until an unsuspecting bait enters the their lair. Mark the productive docks on your GPS or a satellite chart to avoid confusion on future trips… if you fish enough docks, trust me, you won’t be able to remember all of their locations.
Bait and tackle selection really varies quite a bit for fishing docks… I use both natural bait and artificials for probing around the docks. Snook like buck tails, fast moving plugs, and even flies around the dock lights where as redfish prefer jig & plastic combo’s, crank baits, and a variety of natural baits… it’s usually the angler’s choice based on conditions. As far as the tackle options go… obviously heavier gear is necessary for species like grouper and snook while lighter tackle is a much better choice for trout and sheephead. Remember, there are no hard and fast rules when it comes to equipment for dock fishing; again angler preference!
The photograph I’ve attached to this article is that of a 33 inch redfish caught by one of my clients while dock fishing… he also caught several sheephead & black drum that afternoon; proving once again to expect the unexpected around the docks… they are the ultimate “fish magnet.”
Keep’em Bent!
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I don’t work docks as a general rule. My sometimes fishing partner is totally into skipping DOA Shrimp under the docks. His favorite time is in the heat of the day in the Summer for Snook. As a guide he has taught a lot of people how to skip a dock. One of the main parts is to get the lure as far back under the dock as you possibly can. Many anglers cast to the outside of a dock and give up because there is nothing there, the fish are back up in the back part just sitting in ambush mode. Your estimate of 50 docks in a day is on the money. In the Indian River one area has a load of docks, but they have all been put in in the last three or four years. The result is that a once productive area is now a vast waste land. The chemicals from the new docks has driven everything off.