Considering most of your time is spent waiting for a king to bite, I had a chance to think about how much of it is luck and how many things I can change or have control of to improve my luck. Two of the biggest things I have control over is how I make up my hook rigs and how far I throw my anchor. I have seen kings caught close to the pier and some caught farther out, but I still aim for maximum distance. One reason, the farther out you throw the better your anchor will(should) stick because of the line angle. I like fishing farther out as well, so another reason I prefer a longer cast.
How you rig up your hooks is the one thing that is totally under your control. I like 3 hooks in the back with the hooks sized to the bait. I try to keep as much wire and extra stuff out of the water as much as I can so I have about 8-10 inches of wire between my hooks and a swivel trying to minimize stuff that could spook a fish.
As far as where on the pier,front or off the side, to me that is mostly luck. Sometimes fishing with the wind direction will work but just as often I have seen fish caught off the other corner despite the wind.
Bait is kinda pot luck as well, sometimes there are plenty of bait fish, sometimes you have to beg for a tiny spot.
I know there are people on here who have put in a few more hours on the planks waiting than I have, what are your thoughts? Is there something you do to improve your odds vs just hoping you get lucky?
How you rig up your hooks is the one thing that is totally under your control. I like 3 hooks in the back with the hooks sized to the bait. I try to keep as much wire and extra stuff out of the water as much as I can so I have about 8-10 inches of wire between my hooks and a swivel trying to minimize stuff that could spook a fish.
As far as where on the pier,front or off the side, to me that is mostly luck. Sometimes fishing with the wind direction will work but just as often I have seen fish caught off the other corner despite the wind.
Bait is kinda pot luck as well, sometimes there are plenty of bait fish, sometimes you have to beg for a tiny spot.
I know there are people on here who have put in a few more hours on the planks waiting than I have, what are your thoughts? Is there something you do to improve your odds vs just hoping you get lucky?