Beach piers are very popular destinations on the Carolina coast. Growing up in a fishing port town, piers are a natural part of the scenery, a gathering place. They are typically built where one coastal town ends and another town begins adding revenues for that particular townships. I remember building sand castles under the pier as a kid while keeping a watchful eye on the fisherman’s above me.

Finally, I became a fisherman on the pier. The moon was full and in perfect place casting a blue velvet hue on the ocean, making it hard to keep my hands on the fishing pole and not on my camera. The view was spectacular, almost magical. The moon created a misty glow across the ocean and the mist hovered around the shoreline.

 

                                                                                                     waves

                                                                                           misty

Flocks of birds circle the shore and then fly back and forth the length of the pier. I think they were showing off and playing with everyone, trying to divert all the attention to them. They stayed close by all evening, performing formations and dancing along the horizon. And then I would see them flocked together almost completely still in midair like an audience watching a show.

The one thing I know about fishing is that it brings out the quirkiness in people. The group fishing next to us sang songs to the fish the whole time (here fishy fishy fish). Another guy whistled the whole time, as if the fish understood he was calling them to their defeat. Some of the fisherman were dead silent while others enjoyed fellowship with friends and conversation. Many people were there just to people watch and stare at the ocean.

My take away on pier fishing, the fish have us figured out. They know how to run the length of the pier and grab the bait and run, kind of like fish (drive-bys). Every time I reeled my rod up, my bait was gone and there was no fish. All in all, we caught one fish each. Great fun, but patience is a must.

Bottom line, I am happy just to be near the sea, as I am a fish out of sea….