Beautiful sunset on Pier 60

February is a month of weather changes, and the fishing on Pier 60 was quite good.

Butterfish or Silver Perch were a common catch most days and evenings. Small pieces of shrimp were a productive bait, and the larger Sabiki rigs tipped with cut shrimp allowed some to catch multiple fish on one drop.

Silver Trout or Sand Sea Trout of good size have been showing up after dark, and many fishermen were able to get quite a few of them using the same rigs and baits as for the Butterfish.

A good number of Whiting were taken this month on Pier 60. Whiting like cut shrimp, but will also feast on cut squid.

There were a few nice Spotted Sea Trout taken in February, but the Trout usually move in after dark and feed in schools that may prefer one area of the Pier or another. Trout like live shrimp, but will also strike a grub-tail lure, especially if tipped with a bit of fresh shrimp. The artificial shrimp also work well for Trout, and one bait can be used to catch multiple fish if one is careful and lucky.

Kevin from England with a sheepeshead and a mackerel

There have been a good number of Sheepshead feeding on the barnacle-encrusted pilings that support the pier. Anglers have been able to catch the Striped Convicts using a small hook baited with Sand Fleas, Fiddler Crabs, and Shrimp. Some of the Sheepshead have been quite chunky, and require the landing net to raise them within grasp. Successful Sheepshead fishing is an acquired talent, so lighten your terminal tackle to the minimum to be able to feel the bite. A Sand Flea or Fiddler Crab on a small hook is irresistible to a browsing Sheepshead.

Rieann with Sheepshead catch

We carry both blanched Sand Fleas and Fiddler Crabs in the Tackle Shop here on Pier 60. Ask for assistance, and we will get you set up with the right rig and baits to catch these tasty fish that some say taste a bit like Lobster.

Spanish Mackerel catch

Spanish Mackerel have been showing up in the mornings as the water temperatures have climbed past 65 degrees. When the Mackerel show up, there are usually several other species of fish close behind. The Macks will devour a live Shrimp dangled mid-water under a bobber, but will also readily strike a plug or small silver spoon. Some anglers have been successful using one of the larger Sabiki rigs, and the multiple hooks have enabled some to catch multiple fish on one drop. Mackerel have a minimum size of 12 inches to keep, and we have seen fish both under that and up to 18 inches or so.

Naser and Mariah of Springfield, NY with a Spanish Mackerel

When the Mackerel are feeding, the action is continuous and may last for a few hours. The bite stops for a few hours, then begins again. Mackerel have been caught at night here, because of the lights we have shining down into the water.

In recent days, water temperatures have been flirting around the 70-degree mark. This heralds springtime, and with it some of the best fishing conditions of the year. A couple of small King Mackerel have already been taken, with more and larger fish certain to follow. The lone “Smoker Kings” will soon be prowling off the beaches, looking for a live fish to devour. Get prepared.

There have been a lot of BonnetHead Sharks cruising the Pier, with the larger gravid females most visible. Some BlackTip Sharks have come over the rail in recent days also.

We have seen a smattering of Bluefish in the last week of the month, along with a few small Flounder. Schools of Glass Minnows have been gathering under the lights at night, along with schools of BallyHoo.

Capt'n Tom

March brings with it varied weather that can either mimic summertime, or winter. Clear waters and calm seas with temperatures into the 80’s can be replaced with winds, surf, and cloudy water within the space of a single day. Look for the warming trends to bring in even more variety as conditions improve.

On April 1st Pier 60 goes back to being open 24 hours, 7 day a week.

Good Luck Fishing!

Cleaning a mess winter whiting and silver perch

Fishing on Pier 60 in January was productive for anglers going out between cold fronts. After the fronts come through, the weather moderates and some fishing success was possible. Both regulars and visitors caught fish, with plenty of variety of species available.

Silver Perch, also known as Butterfish, have been taken day and night by anglers using a multiple hook rig and small pieces of shrimp. Butterfish are a small but tasty fish.

Mike with a large Winter Whiting

Whiting have been showing up in decent numbers, and the size of the fish has increased all month. The biggest Whiting are colored up, with a tannish mottled pattern on the larger fish. These fish are large enough to fillet and are some of the finest-tasting fish anywhere. The Whiting have been caught mostly in the evenings, and both squid and shrimp have been working for them.

Silver or Sand Sea Trout have just started biting in the late afternoons, and into the evening. Larger ones look much like the Spotted Trout, minus the spots. They have been biting on shrimp, both live and fresh-cut, or a grubtail.

Jerry from Tampa with a nice Spotted Trout

Spotted Sea Trout have been hitting live shrimp and grubtail lures tipped with a bit of fresh shrimp. Some days there are quite a few Trout under the legal size of 15 inches, but the fish are getting larger as the waters warm and water clears between fronts.

Sheepshead are hanging around, legal-sized fish should be here when we see the water temps warm into the 60’s. We carry frozen Fiddler Crabs and Sand Fleas to catch these Striped crab-eaters. The Sheepshead has a bit of a “nutty” taste, and also reminds some as tasting like Lobster. It takes the right bait, tackle, rigging and the feel to capture this worthy opponent.

Hardhead Catfish somehow seem to show up only when the water is roiled up. Beware the spines.

Capt'n Tom

A few BonnetHead Sharks were caught and released lately. Their appearance seems to herald an influx of migrating species.

We also saw some StingRays, Puffer-fish, and Sea Robin caught and released. Both Manatee and Loggerhead Sea Turtles were spotted around the pier this month, and spring is around the corner. We’ll have a few more fronts come through, but the warming trend is inevitable.

Good Luck Fishing!

Dec. 2010 sheepshead on Pier 60

December is the month of changes on Pier 60. The first week the water temperatures were still close to 70 degrees, and with it we had Spanish Mackerel, Flounder, Silver Trout, Sheepshead and Whiting caught. Then a strong weather system brought high winds, waves, and plummeting water and air temperatures. For almost a week winds over 15 knots kept the fishing success to a minimum. The winds moderated during a brief lull before the next front crashed through. During that window of opportunity, Flounder, Whiting, Silver Trout and Sheepshead were taken. The next front brought the water temperatures down into the 40’s, and the water was roiled by high surf and winds above 30 knots.

So the pattern shows fishing success is possible between fronts, as the air stabilizes, the sun comes out, and warms the water a bit. Plan your fishing accordingly.

A cleaning table provided for fishing visitors on Clearwater’s Pier 60.

We have had some customers enjoying great success catching Butterfish, both daytime and night-time angling. One Dad and son visiting from up north caught and released over 150 fish on a recent evening. Mixed in were quite a few Whiting.

Best bet is to use a multiple hook Sabiki rig, using a bit of shrimp on each hook. Multiple fish can be taken at a time, and once the bite is on, the Butterfish don’t even need the bit of shrimp to mob your line.

Butterfish are tiny, but a six-incher will allow a couple of tiny and tasty fillets. Or, you can cook them in the pan whole, and have them for breakfast with eggs and grits, like the Florida crackers did.

Fishing for Whiting in the weeks ahead should be productive. Squid works well for them, using a double-hook rig, and fishing over the sandy areas around the pier.

Capt'n Tom

Sheepshead should be an available target, chumming around the pilings with bits of shrimp or oyster. A Sand Flea is a tasty morsel to present on a small strong hook, but you have to develop the knack for setting the hook before the bait is stripped off.

Spotted Sea Trout season is open in January. Look for Trout in the evening, using live shrimp or a tandem grubtail lure tipped with a bit of fresh shrimp. Other offerings are productive, including MirroLures or Topwater plugs.

Good Luck Fishing!

Capt'n Tom

This month the fishing was great on Pier 60 in Clearwater. A huge variety of fish were caught, as the change of seasons began.

Spanish Mackerel Catch

Spanish Mackerel were seen in good numbers practically all day. The bite starts at first light, then on and off all day, and sometimes into the night here, because of the lights. Shrimp, whitebait, and lures all work well for them.

There were Cobia prowling around the pier, with both keepers and undersize fish seen. Cobia are usually taken with live bait, but they can be inquisitive, and will strike a lure as well.

A few keeper Gag Grouper were taken, with plenty of undersize fish released.

Gag Grouper caught on Clearwaters Pier 60

A few Pompano were caught, along with Sheepshead, Ladyfish, Grunts, Flounder, and Redfish. Lots of little Sharks were caught and released. We saw BonnetHead, Spinner, BlackTip, and Bull Sharks.

A big push of Bluefish later in the month coincided with the 70-degree water temperatures we experienced.

The Spotted Sea Trout closure remains in effect through December, but plenty of fish are seen under the lights for catch-and-release fishermen.

Sand Sea Trout and Silver Trout have been showing up in schools, and when found, can be caught one after another after dark. Mixed in are Whiting and Croakers. I saw one fisherman catch a dozen fish in as many casts the other night. As soon as the artificial rig hit the water, fish were on.

The weather pattern this time of year gives us cold fronts approaching from the North, with winds blowing to meet the front. Fishing can be great in advance of these fronts. Then storms, squalls, and cold winds push through, muddying up the water. It might stay cool for a day or two, but usually things start to clear up quickly. Fishing improves accordingly.

Keep an eye on the weather, especially the wind speed and water temperature. The forecast for December is optimistic with plenty of variety.

You can view a 48-hour composite plot of Pier 60 weather conditions by clicking on the link to the NOAA weather station in the sidebar.

Good Luck Fishing!

Capt'n Tom

October’s warm weather and mostly calm seas made for a fabulous fishing extravaganza on Clearwater Beach’s Pier 60. Plenty of baitfish surrounded the Pier, and anglers of all ages and skill levels were able to score some really good catches.

Luke and Logan from Michigan with Spanish Mackerel

Spanish Mackerel were caught by using live minnows or live shrimp under a float, and the size of the fish caught just got bigger all month. Many of the Macks were in excess of 24 inches, and that is about as large as you ever see them here. The Spanish Mackerel were also targeted with success using a spoon or casting plug. A bit of flash is all that’s needed to draw a swarm of hungry toothy Mackerel to a strike. Many visiting anglers caught enough to bring a bunch of fillets to a local beach restaurant for a truly fresh fish dinner.

The migrating King Mackerel prowl the waters off the beach, and a few nice “Smoker” Kings were fought and landed this month on Pier 60. The King Mackerel grows in excess of four feet and has a powerful forked tail on one end, and an arsenal of sharp slicing teeth on the other. These fish are fast-movers, and a strike from them is not a nibble, it is a full-on attack that starts with a rush of speed and power that can break gear and straighten hooks as often as not. One of the keys to success in catching the King Mackerel is to have the drag set loose enough to allow the strike and first sizzling run to get fully underway before trying to turn the fish or muscle him in. A green fish full of energy is more likely to make a run under the pier, or around some obstacle and end in a cut-off.

Flounder start off life looking like a normal fish, but as they mature, they change shape so that both eyes are on the same side, and they lie flat on the sand bottom waiting for prey to ambush. Make no mistake; the Flounder is an awesome predator that will swim up towards the surface to make a meal. We have seen more large Flounder this month at Pier 60 than ever before. It was not uncommon to see anglers catching 4 to 6 fish each in a single morning. Many of the Flounder were larger than 20 inches, well in excess of the 12-inch minimum. The Flounder will take small minnows, spoons, and feathered or grubtail jigs. They are a bit daunting to clean, but the firm white fillets are a treat and are some of the best-eating fish found anywhere.

Tarpon were moving past Pier 60 all month, and fish were hooked and jumped almost daily. The aerial display of a hooked 100 lb plus fish shaking and shimmering trying to spit the hook is a sight all anglers should get to see. Tarpon are powerful fighters, and after the initial jumps many fish settle in to what amounts to a tug-of-war with the angler. Most times the fish wins the battle with a sudden surge of power or jump that snaps the line. It takes patience and attention to detail to subdue the “Silver King”, as any weakness in your gear or rigging or inattention by the angler is usually exploited by the fish to his advantage.

Kevin and 35 inch cobia

Cobia are still in their migration south, and we saw quite a few of them caught on Pier 60 in October. Most of the Cobia were under the legal limit of 33 inches, but we did see some keepers come up in the landing nets. The Cobia is a powerful fish that does not tire easily, and he usually keeps a reserve of energy for a last-minute explosion of effort to try and escape. Successful Cobia anglers admire the resourcefulness of their quarry, and are awed by his brute strength.

Spotted Sea Trout have been showing up after dark, and were biting shrimp, small minnows, or jigs. The Spotted Sea Trout has a closed season in November and December, to protect the fish during the spawn.

Sand Sea Trout look like his spotted cousin, minus the spots. There is no closed season on them, and we saw some nice Sand Trout taken after dark here this month.

Silver Trout showed up in the evenings some this month, but the water temperatures were still in the 70’s and we will see more Silver Trout arrive once the water cools into the high-60’s.

Whiting are also more prevalent in cooler waters, so although a few were caught in October, more will show as cooler weather prevails.

A few Redfish made an appearance on Pier 60, including some bruisers in the 30-pound class, which were released. A few slot-sized fish of between 18 and 27 inches were caught and released also.

Fisherman with a grouper caught on Pier 60 this month

Small Gag Grouper are not uncommon this time of year, and there are some keepers in the area, but have managed to drop off the lines on the way up.

Sheepshead are feeding on the encrusted pilings that support Pier 60, and it’s not too difficult to get a few to bite. Use small pieces of shrimp, or sand fleas (mole crabs) and a small stout hook with only a bit of lead weight. Setting the hook on a Sheepie takes a bit of talent and technique. Once you get the knack, it’s not too difficult to repeat your success.

Snook were seen off the end of the Pier this month, but few were caught. Once the water gets below 70 degrees, most of these survivors from last years’ cold will no doubt head back to the same creeks and canals inside that sheltered them last cold season.

Jack Crevalle and Bluefish were caught this month, and both of these species are fighters that attack and run as hard as a fish twice their size.

Kevin with Mackerel catch

When the cold fronts arrive, Catfish show up in the turbid waters. They fight well, but are avoided by most anglers, in spite of their growing popularity as a food fish.

We saw more Sharks this month than ever before. BlackTip Shark, Spinner Shark, and Bull Sharks were all seen, fought, and released this month.

Cold fronts are starting to push through, and with the lower water temperatures, some species of fish will move inside the bay or go further offshore. As the water warms between fronts, look for good fishing as migrating shoals of different species set up for a meal around Pier 60, taking advantage of the baitfish and the structure.

Remember that winter fishing hours are in effect here, 6 AM to 9:30 PM, open all night Friday and Saturday.

Good Luck Fishing!