Matt Wagner with a Pier 60 SailCat

The warmer-than-usual winter brought good fishing to Pier 60 in February. We did have a couple of cold fronts push through, bringing high winds, waves, and roiling the water. These fronts ruin the fishing for a couple of days, but soon after it calms down the waters begin to clear and fishing improves.

We saw Sand Sea Trout and Silver Trout this month, biting on cut baits and grub-tail lures.

Butterfish, aka Silver Perch, were caught in the afternoons and evenings.

Whiting were about with some abundance, and were taken most often in the early evenings. Whitings were taken mostly on cut shrimp and cut squid.

There were Sheepshead caught this month on Pier 60, and anglers fishing the pilings with cut shrimp or sand fleas were rewarded with the tasty convicts on the stringer.

Spotted Sea Trout were seen with some abundance this month, with fish taken either in the morning or later in the evening. Spotted Trout like shrimp, but will also take a grub-tail lure or artificial minnow with gusto. Spotted Trout must be 15″ minimum with each angler allowed one fish over 20 inches.

Flounder made a big showing in February, with many small and medium-sized fish caught on most days. Minimum size on Flounder is 12 inches, but there isn’t a lot of meat on a fish that size. Most anglers release the smaller ones, and keep fish in the 15+ range. Flounder like shrimp and small fish, but will also take a grub-tail lure.

As the water temperatures hovered in the mid to upper 60′s this month, we did see a fair number of Spanish Mackerel taken, usually in the mornings. Mackerel will bite shrimp, but also like a lure with a bit of flash. As water temperatures get solidly into the 70′s we will see more and more Spanish Mackerel throughout the day.

Capt'n Tom

Pompano made an appearance this month, with a couple of fish taken that went over 20 inches. Pompano will bite shrimp or lures, especially the crazy jig we carry in the shop. This fluttering weighted hook with attached teaser works wonders on them, and Mackerel like it also.

Get out and fish early for the best bite, and again around dusk for different varieties.

Pier 60 will be open 24 hours a day from April 1^st. to Oct. 1^st. Your fishing day is from 6 AM to 6AM the following day.

Good Luck Fishing!