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!

Capt'n Tom

The fishing in September on Pier 60 was steady, with end-of-summer weather patterns that kept the temperatures hot, in the high-80’s during the day. We had no tropical systems hit us, and only brief but strong squalls to cool things down.

Early morning anglers had a fine time with plenty of Spanish Mackerel found off the end of the Pier. Live minnows and live shrimp achieve great results, but plugs, spoons, and feathers also produce hits. The fish have been getting larger all summer, and we saw some nice fat Mackerel taken this month. These fish continue to show throughout the day, but the most intense time for the bite is early.

There were still a lot of Tarpon jumped this month, using live baits fished on the bottom, or with live baits presented under a float. The fish mull about the end of the pier in the morning, and some bites occurred then, although throughout the day the pods of Tarpon move up and down the beach, and anglers jump fish out of those schools as they move past. Hook-ups in the middle of the afternoon were not uncommon, with fish in the 80 to 100 lb. class jumping to try and throw the hook.

Snook were seen this month, but those big females were wary and not interested in biting. As the FWC closed the Snook season, the fishing pressure was way down, and hopefully we will have a good spawn for next years’ fishery.

Spotted Sea Trout have been active, and they have been showing up after dark for the most part. Some nice keepers have been taken before sunset, but the best time has been in the middle of the night. The Trout have been partial to small whitebaits caught on a Sabiki, but have also shown interest in live shrimp free-lined under the lights. Some anglers have been successful using the grub-tail lures tipped with a bit of fresh shrimp.

There were quite a few Cobia seen this month. Small undersize fish ranging from 12 to 24 inches were most commonly caught and released, but there were a few hook-ups with big Cobia. All of the big Cobia outmatched the anglers gear and skill, and got away.

We saw a few big Redfish in September, with bruisers over 40 inches fought, caught, and released. We also had a few Reds that were under the slot size of 18 inches released.

Quite a few Gag Grouper were caught in September, but all of the fish were undersize, and were released. Look for the larger Grouper to move in as the waters cool in October.

Flounder continue to be a daily catch on Pier 60 in September. Many of these fish bit using small live minnows fished near the bottom. The Flatties will also take a live shrimp or feathered jig, and will swim clear of the bottom to strike. We have seen a good number of fish in excess of 20 inches taken, and expect to see them well into October.

Schools of Ladyfish have been showing up at night, and aside from the acrobatic thrills they provide, some anglers have been using them for Snook or Tarpon bait.

Jack Crevalle have been an incidental catch this month, and pound-for-pound, it would be hard-pressed to find a fish that feeds and fights as hard as the Jack.

We have seen a few loner Bluefish in September, but the schools of larger fish will arrive after the water cools a bit.

Plenty of Sharks were around the Pier this month, with Spinners, BlackTip, Hammerhead and Bull Sharks seen, fought, and released.

Look for King Mackerel to arrive in October. As the water temperatures drop, big Kings cruise off the beaches, and will be looking for a large live bait to ambush. These big loners are called “Smokers” because the runs they take make anglers’ reels smoke as the drag protests against the speed and power of the fish.

Changing weather patterns announce the arrival of fall. Cold fronts pushing through bring strong North winds, but after the fronts pass, everything moderates. Look for October to bring us King Mackerel, Whiting, Silver Trout, Sea Trout, Grouper, and more.

Fall hours are in place for fishing on Pier 60.
Sunday-Thursday 6:00 AM to 9:30 PM
Friday and Saturday 24 hours

Good Luck Fishing!