I will be headed out next week for my first of my two annual fishing trips to Port A.
My buddies and I always wade fish each day while we are there, but thinking that we need to find a place to fish at night to maximize our time away from work and family.
I have not fished a pier or jetty since I was in high school close to thirty years ago.
I have large surf spinning reel set ups for everyone and have read enough posts on here to have a pretty decent idea of what to use for bait and how to set up the rig.
The biggest questions in my mind right now are whether the packery channel jetty is lighted or not, and whether this time of year fishing off the pier or the jetty is likely to be most productive. I know that the Port A ship channel jetty is not lighted and there is no way I am going to attempt to maneuver that sucker after dark.
Also, is there a pier net that is considered to be superior to the others on the market. I saw Frabill has one for sale at Bass Pro for $50.00.
If anyone is aware of any unwritten pier or jetty etiquette rules that I should be aware of I would appreciate knowing them as well.
Keep your fingers crossed for good weather next week as it sucks to drive almost a thousand miles one way and have the weather gods piss on your parade.
Thanks.

Horace Caldwell Pier is where I alwys do my best, the jetyys get to be a pain losing all yur tackle in the rocks with such a heavy current unless you hoof it all the way to the very end, I fish the rocks in between the tides whens its calm, I normally will use a slip cork set up to fish the rocks, definetly a good quality pier net for the big fish on the pier, plus the pier is lighted and in the winter yu normally have the pier to yourself me and my wife spent 3 days on the pier and caught more fish always carry a light set up for whiting and sand trout, take the small ones and use them for the big rods alive or cut in half on a 5/0 hook or bigger always some big fish ready to eat a tasty whiting!

One more thing, work the guts in between the waves youl be able to tell from up on the pier where there at, lot of fish use them as travel routes, if you want a big shark go to the end on the t head right side corner is where we were catching them wire leaders are a must cuz theyll cut off real quick
http://i1077.photobucket.com/albums/w461/jid3701/DSCN2903_zpsaa3454ee.jpg
http://i1077.photobucket.com/albums/w461/jid3701/bth_SSPX0001_zpsf53dcc20.jpg?t=1356736506
These were from November on cut whiting

A pier is definantly more comfortable and safer. I've never slipped and busted my kester on a pier.
Jettys hold more fish though. You also have a lot more variety on a jetty because they usually go further out into the ocean.

I vote Piers, but then again that is about all I fish. I good pier net runs less than $25 usually. I prefer the ones that have a metal ring in the bottom, they seem to be easier to work with in wind and current.

After you get the net, you will have to make the harness and tie a rope to it. Its a good idea to do that before your trip.

I like jetties for day fishing but will never get caught out there in the dark. Jetties are also less crowded than piers. I like piers for night fishing because of the lights and safety. Overall I'd vote pier fishing to be better.

Used to fish Jetty s night after night in RI in really "snotty" weather. REALLY dangerous at night, for sure, and it seems the Texas Jettys are very user-freindly to say the least - You can practically drive right up to most of them and some even have had rails and walkways!

I would have to agree on HC pier this time of year they often shut the office so it's free!