The side effects of cities—manmade lakes, rock walls, breakwaters, marinas, piers and jetties—provide welcome food and shelter for fish. Any tidal areas with such structures are worth exploring with a rod and a box of lures. And you can further increase your chances of a good fish if you choose your spots wisely.

The older the manmade structure the better. A food chain needs time to establish itself before the apex predators join in. Focus your efforts on those structures with good sea plant and barnacle coverage, and plenty of nooks and crannies—food and shelter for baitfish.

Rock walls are among the best manmade fish habitats. They are usually situated in areas with good water-flow and can maintain vibrant fish communities.

The rising tide is a good time to fish rock walls because the high water allows predators to move into areas they may not be able to access throughout much of the tide cycle. Small baitfish are also active at this time scavenging amongst the debris collected by the rising water—a fact not lost on bigger fish.

Take some time to observe which small fish, prawns and crabs are busy on your local rock walls and use baits and lures that best imitate them. Avoid using sinkers or heavy jig heads where possible to achieve a more natural presentation—this will also help avoid your rig being caught on the rocks.