Bottom feeders, including croakers, spot, and sea mullet usually cooperate when the water along the surf line is discolored and dirty. When the fishing is good, these fish can be caught "two at a time."

Clear water is best for flounders, bluefish, speckled trout, pompano, and Spanish mackerel. All will go for a piece of fresh bait, but blues, trout and Spanish macks will often prefer artificial lures. Lead headed jigs, double bucktail rigs, metal spoons, and a locally popular jig called a Gotcha, are all effective pier fishing lures.

Big fish, such as cobia, king mackerel, jack crevalle, and tarpon are also taken from piers. The tackle for these fish, which may easily range between 20 and 70 pounds, is heavy duty and fairly specialized since the most effective way to capture these trophies is with live bait.

Experienced pier fishermen use a trolley rig setup consisting of two rods. First, an anchor line, consisting of only a heavy pyramid sinker that grabs to the bottom, is cast out. On the "fighting rod," a live bait is impaled on a hook, leader, and float combination and run out on a clip that slides down the anchor line. When the big fish strikes, the float rig pops loose of the anchor line, and the angler fights his fish. If you have an interest in trying it, talk to the folks who sell tackle at any of the Outer Banks piers, and they can set you up with the right equipment.

Most species are available from spring through fall, but many of the smaller fish move off the beach or migrate southward as the water cools. By early October red drum start to move into North Carolina waters, followed by striped bass in November. These are big fish. Stripers can easily weigh more than 20 pounds, and a 30-pound red drum is considered average.

Drum arrive before the stripers, and their schedule is usually dictated by the weather. Drum prefer to feed in rough surf, so the October northeasters will usually send schools of them cruising by the piers. For several years, the piers along the Outer Banks have produced larger red drum than any other piers on the North Carolina coast.

Tackle for these brutes is heavy duty. Often, conditions are tough when the fishing is hot and pounding surf with a strong current dictates the need for heavy sinkers. Stiff "heaver" rods with enough backbone to cast 8 to 12-ounce sinkers plus a large chunk of bait are standard equipment. The rods are usually in the 10 to 11 foot range. They are matched with revolving spool reels that can hold at least 275 yards of 25 to 30 pound test monofilament.

Spinning tackle will work, and plenty of big drum are taken every year on spinners. If spinning tackle is your choice, make sure the outfit is heavy enough to handle 8-ounce sinkers. The heavy equipment may sound like overkill, but these rods are for casting heavy weights and bait more than fighting the fish.

Red drum fishing from the piers is exclusively done with fresh, natural bait, such as mullet, menhaden or spot. During the fall drum run a fresh piece of menhaden is the top choice. The drum pros use sliding sinker or "fishfinder" rigs. The sliding sinker enables the drum to pick up the bait, move off with it and not feel the weight of the sinker. Most of the drum fishing is done from the extreme end of the pier, and long casters will frequently draw more strikes than those who can't get the distance.

Stripers usually arrive in late November, and the piers north of Oregon Inlet have the best shot. Stripers may come by the piers at any time of the day or stage of the tide, but if you have to pick one time to fish, the rising tide should get the nod.

Spinning tackle is fine for stripers, and a stiff-tipped rod in the nine to ten foot range is adequate to cast bait rigs or lures, so monofilament line of 17 to 20 pound test spooled on a good quality medium size spinning reel should be a good choice.

Outer Banks piers offer fish of all sizes to anglers for most of the year. For those who are unsure, and want "try before they buy," tackle is available for rent. All of the piers sell frozen and fresh bait when available, and each has a selection of the most popular lures and terminal tackle.

In the pier houses you may be able to get a snack, a cold drink, or a hot cup of coffee, and possibly a complete seafood dinner. All offer lights for fishing at night, and tables with running water for cleaning your catch.