Just spent the morning at Cocoa Beach Pier (6:30 am to 10:30 am).

First let me say the pier is a good location as far as safe, cleanliness, amenities and personnel. I enjoyed the outing.

Second I checked the fishing conditions Fri, 06 Feb. It was a three star time and day combination.

Third the fish population was zip zilch nada. Using shrimp, clams and squid it was practically impossible to even get a bite on the bait fish rigs. At a place like this you may expect the fish around the pilings to be present and at least taking the bait. No not happening caught only 2 small bait fish the entire morning.

Fourth after speaking with other fishermen on the pier it was pointed out to me that the two huge trawlers, very visible from the pier all morning long (even there when we left), were shrimping boats that were catching lots of bait, that, had the boats not been there, this bait may have led to more fish in the area for us to catch from the pier.

This sounds like a viable theory to me any comments?

Last bu not least the wind was coming from the North West and thus fishing off the south side of the pier was the best side to avoid tangling tackle to the pier and to find shelter from the biting cold wind. Unfortunately this is also the same place that the surfers were surfing so this limited the distance from the pier that we could fish.

Just a few thoughts any suggestions about fishing in the Ocean without a boat and actually catching fish in Brevard County, would be greatly appreciated.