Capt'n Tom

April continued to be prime fishing here on Clearwater Beach. With the exception of a few days with rough weather, conditions have been great for successful fishing for anglers of all skill levels.

Spanish Mackerel show up consistently just after first light, and are taken on live shrimp, lures and little live minnows. The bite usually continues through the morning, and then tapers off for awhile, only to return off and on throughout the day. Small minnows and shrimp are usually fished under a float. Spoons fished with a ¾ ounce barrel weight a couple of feet ahead produce fish regularly. Got-Cha plugs entice lots of action, and are easy to cast a mile. Even cut strip baits work well if tossed out and moved a little bit to resemble an injured fish.

Pompano have also been taken regularly in the mornings. Successful anglers use live shrimp rigged very lightly with a small hook and perhaps a split shot and light leader tied line-to-line. Others find success using the Crazy Jig with the small teaser we carry in the shop. These lures are fished vertically with a sweeping up and down presentation. Fish usually take on the drop, as the weighted lure flutters on the way down.

Jack from Wisconsin with Flounder

Flounder continue to be caught daily here on Pier 60. The Flatties are ambushing live shrimp, minnows, and lures. The Flounder is a capable predator that uses his chameleon-like abilities to blend in with the bottom where he waits for prey. He has no hesitation to chase and pursue a meal passing above or to the sides; many are hooked mid-water.

Sheepshead are feeding around the pilings, and are worth going after if you are prepared to make the effort. It does take concentration to be a successful Sheepshead fisherman, using light line, small hook, small baits, and a specialized presentation.

Harrie from Richmond, VA with a nice trout

Spotted Sea Trout are caught here primarily in the evenings, but we do see some in the mornings, too. After dark, live shrimp and small minnows are used, free-lining under the lights. While live baits are always good, sometimes it’s difficult to keep the hoards of Pinfish from mangling your hard-earned shrimp or small sardines. Artificial lures like the grubtail, or Gulp baits work wonderfully, and you can experiment with colors that may turn a frustration into a fishing success.

We have seen some King Mackerel this month. A few nice fish were landed, while others found themselves spooled or cut off. More than one rod was seen flying off the pier like a javelin while stunned anglers watched helplessly. Kings are powerful and fast, and hit like a ton of bricks.

A few Cobia have been seen lurking and prowling about, with a few undersize fish released. There’s been a good variety of other species seen here in April, including small Barracuda, Gag Grouper, Black Sea Bass, White Grunt, Jack Crevalle, Remora, Bluefish, and Ladyfish. Lots of baby Sharks were caught and released here this month.

Bill's Fishing Buddy with a Snook

Tarpon have been hooked and fought, but no catch-and releases reported. Pods of Tarpon move up and down the beach and feed as they pass by. Live fish are used primarily here to catch Tarpon, but a dead bait, fish-head or crabs also work well.

Snook are making their way out of the passes and onto the beach. Gathering for the annual spawn, larger females are followed around by a consort of male fish. The fish usually seem more intent on following other fish around than on feeding. Bait is plentiful and it’s got to be just right for them to take yours. Season for Snook should be opening in August, but the FWC has made no definitive rule.

Pier 60 is open 24 hours a day until Oct. 1^st. The fishing day is from 6 AM until 6 AM the next day.

Good Luck Fishing!

Capt'n Tom

We have seen an early spring here on Clearwater Beach. Actually, lack of winter this year has given us warmer waters, earlier fish migrations, and great weather for fishing. Of course we did have some fronts move through, bringing winds, waves, and squalls, but recovery was quick. Gulf water temperatures only dipped out of the 70′s for a few days in March.

Spanish Mackerel have been a daily catch, with the best showing in the morning. Anglers have been using live shrimp, spoons, plugs, and live baitfish under a float to secure these toothy speedsters. Larger Sabiki rigs have been successful as well. The early bite tapers in the late morning, but fish re-appear from time-to-time through the day, and into the evening.

Eric from Weston, FL with a slippery Flounder

Flounder have been abundant again this month, with Flatties caught most every day. Flounder have been biting live shrimp, grub-tail lures, and smaller live minnows brought up on a Sabiki rig. Most of the Flounder have been keepers over 12 inches, but some larger fish have been taken.

We have seen a fair number of Pompano this month on Pier 60. Pompano have been taken on live shrimp and the crazy jigs we sell in the tackle shop. These weighted-hook jigs with attached teaser are fished vertically in a sweeping fashion, with most bites occurring as the lure falls in a fluttering motion.

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!

January usually brings us some of the coldest weather of the year, but this year has been milder than usual. Cold fronts have pushed through, bringing winds and waves, but water temperatures have not fallen below the mid-60′s for any length of time.

Fishing has been good for the usual winter-time species. Spotted Sea Trout have not been dominant since the season opened, mostly smaller fish landed in the mornings and evenings. The larger, legal-sized fish above 15 inches seem to show up late at night. Shrimp and grubtails have worked to target them.

Some nice Sand Sea Trout have been seen from just before sunset till later at night. Some of these Sand Trout have gone over 15 inches, and there is no size or bag limit. Sand Trout have been partial to shrimp and shrimp-like lures.

Silver Trout have been showing up in droves, with the Silvers biting all day, but then even better after dark. They have been running  from 6 to 10 inches, and they like shrimp bits or small lures.

Silver Perch, aka Butterfish, have been around in the daytime also, but seem to really start biting an hour before sunset into the evenings. Butterfish like shrimp, but will also take bits of squid. Multiple-hook sabikis tipped with bits of bait work wonders on them.

Whiting have been running good size, with many fish of a foot or so. Mixed in are smaller fish, but there have been plenty of them to go around. Whiting will take shrimp pieces, but also will bite on the tougher longer-lasting squid. Rigging with the weight at the end of the line and the hook or hooks spaced upwards from that allows anglers to feel the bite easily. No size limit or bag limit on Whiting, so fishermen cull their catch of smaller fish before they expire. Some fishermen have been getting full 5-gallon buckets of these tasty fish.

We have seen a fair number of Flounder here on Pier 60 in January. Fish have been running from under the size limit of 12 inches to fish in the 18-inch range. Flounder like live shrimp best, or a lure that looks like a little fish or shrimp.

Sheepshead are feeding around the pilings, and can be targeted with a small hook, very little weight, a bit of fresh shrimp, and a deft touch. Their diet of crustaceans imparts their flesh with a flavor not unlike crabmeat. These striped members of the Porgy family can be sight-fished, and we have seen some chunky Sheepies come over the rail this month.

This warmer-than-usual winter has brought us some unusual sights here on Pier 60. Schools of Roe Mullet have been balling up in preparation for a second run to the Gulf to spawn. These fish are full of eggs, and attract numerous predators. The Mullet is a vegetarian, so fishing for them with a hook is problematic, but snatching is a legal way to harvest them. The schools have been so tightly-packed that it is truly a sight to behold. I have not seen this many Mullet since the gill nets were banned in the 90′s. Good to see they are making a comeback. The Dolphins have been putting on a show as they drive into the schools, splashing and playing with their food.

We have also seen some True Hammerhead Sharks, the ones that follow the Tarpon migrations. I have had reports of Tarpon hook-ups, and break-offs around the pilings. Unusual for this time of year, but entirely plausible given the warm winter.

Anglers, please remember to follow State fishery laws. It is your obligation to know your fish, rules, and only keep legal-sized fish. Law says you must have a measuring device when keeping regulated species. Wildlife Officers do visit and check the Pier, and will write tickets with hefty fines for violators. If you are fishing on Pier 60 with a paid fishing admission, then you are issued an armband identifying you as such. With the armband you do not need a Fishing License, as you are fishing under the protection of our Pier license. If you are fishing without a paid fishing admission, then you do not have the protection of our license.

Good Luck Fishing!

A Fishing Couple with Pompano Catch

December was warmer than usual, with a cold front passing through after the first week of the month. Only then did the wind and waves and cold air hurt the fishing here on Pier 60.

Lots of Silver Perch, also known locally as Butterfish, we caught in the afternoons and evenings here. Small but tasty, the Butterfish were taken on single or double-hook rigs using cut shrimp or cut squid.

Silver Trout were also seen in some abundance, with nice fish in the 8 to 12-inch range taken. Silver Trout have no size or bag limits, like the Silver Perch and Whiting, and are a bit more partial to shrimp rather than squid.

Whiting were biting on shrimp and squid, with many fishermen taking home a dozen or more fish in the 10-inch to 14-inch range. Their natural diet of small crustaceans and mollusks impart their flesh with a very sweet, mild flavor.

Fishing Guide Tom with a Gag Grouper

Spotted Sea Trout season remained closed for December, but a lot of fish were caught and released here during the month. Season re-opens January 1^st. Minimum size is 15 inches, bag limit of four fish, with only one fish per angler over 20 inches.

There have been Sheepshead feeding amongst the pilings of the pier, and some anglers have been able to catch a few of these chunky delicious fish for a meal. Sheepshead can be targeted by fishing a small morsel of shrimp on a small hook. Look for Sheepshead grazing on the pilings, chum a few pieces of cut shrimp, then put your hook weighted with only a split-shot down next to the pilings. When the line moves or twitches, set the hook and pull up your Sheepshead. If the hook comes up empty, try again with a smaller bait, and watch for the tell-tale bite. You will see it before you feel it in most cases.

Kevin from the UK with Pompano Catch

The mild weather of December allowed the water temperatures to stay warm enough for quite a bit of Spanish Mackerel action during the daytime. The Mackerel were feeding on live shrimp, lures like the Got-Cha plugs, and cut bait fished under a bobber.

We saw quite a few Flounder here this month on Pier 60. These were not the “doormats” but smallish fish from 12 to 15 inches; still nice to see.

Some Pompano were caught this month, and also some small Gag Grouper. Gag Grouper season remains closed to recreational anglers, however.

BlackTip Sharks have been around all month, providing a powerful fight for some anglers. BonnetHead Sharks were seen swimming around most nights, and many small ones were caught and released here in December. Many of the smaller ones were youngsters, as this area seems to be a nursery for baby sharks.

Capt'n Tom

For best fishing success, try to get out before the cold fronts pass. Fish seem to feed heavily in advance of the fronts. Once the fronts pass, waves, wind, and cold air combine to make the fishing poor, or at least uncomfortable for the fishermen.

Good Luck Fishing!