Pier 60 Fishing Report

Heavy Sea Fog on Pier 60

Fishing in December on Pier 60 was as varied as the weather. The first few cold fronts of the season pushed through bringing sea-fog, or winds and rain. In spite of the varied conditions, anglers enjoyed many days and nights of successful fishing.

Spanish Mackerel continued to be caught regularly, throughout the days, and on some nights, too. Best bets for Mackerel were live minnows or lures, fished mid-water. With the cooler waters of January, the Mackerel have moved off, and we don’t expect to see many of them again until warmer waters return to Pier 60.

Snook were still caught off Pier 60 this month. In the first two weeks of December we had some great catch-and release Snook fishing here. One of our fishermen, Jared from Palm Harbor, caught and released 3nice Snook on artificial topwater lures one evening, providing thrilling strikes and jumps. One of the Snook measured 42”. Those fish have now moved inside to find warmer waters in creeks and deeper inlets. Snook will not return to Pier 60 until the waters warm back up into the low 70’s. Snook season is closed until March 1st in the Gulf of Mexico. We can only hope that the freezing cold weather of January won’t have a big impact on the mortality of the Snook, and they will return to the passes and the beaches once the waters warm up. We had some fantastic Snook fishing on Pier 60 this year, and we need those fish to survive this cold winter.

Whiting have shown up regularly this month, and fishermen were able to catch a few, or dozens, depending on the day and the fisherman. Whiting were biting best on cut squid. Whiting should remain one of the mainstays of winter fishing here, and anglers who brave the cooler temperatures will no doubt be rewarded with ample catches of them if they fish from dusk into the evenings. Whiting are an unregulated species; that is to say there is no size or bag limits on them.

Silver Trout and Butterfish showed up in force this month, and will continue to give anglers a tasty batch of fillets. Silver Trout bite best on small pieces of cut fresh shrimp, and the butterfish likewise, but some anglers have good luck on lures, too.

Spotted Sea Trout season is open now, and there have been good numbers of them seen schooling under the pier lights at night. Live shrimp or lures entice the Trout to bite, but when the winds have turned the water to an opaque froth, very few are seen. A few days of calm weather will bring the Spotted Sea Trout to the forefront, and we should see many anglers getting their limits. Spotted Sea Trout need to be at least 15”, and only one of an angler’s daily bag limit of 4 fish may be over 20”.

Sheepshead provide a challenge to most, as they tend to take the bait off the hook without the fisherman realizing that he has even had a bite. Once you get the rigging and technique down pat, fishermen may be rewarded with a stringer full of some of the best-eating fish the Gulf of Mexico has to offer. Small crabs, Sand-fleas (Mole Crabs), Fiddler Crabs, Snapping Shrimp, and Ghost Shrimp are some of the live baits used, but Sheepshead will also take frozen chunks of fresh shrimp or frozen crabs. The key to fishing them is to rig lightly, use a small stout hook, be patient, and put the bait right next to a barnacle-encrusted piling. When your line quivers, raise the rod to set the hook, or put another morsel on your bare hook. Don’t get discouraged, as you may have to feed the fish for quite awhile before you get the feel for timing the hook-set. It is well-worth enduring the initial dismay of coming up empty-hooked, but you will get the feel for it eventually, and you too can have a stringer full of Sheepshead. Because of their diet of small crustaceans, Sheepshead taste a bit like lobster.

There were quite a few small Gag Grouper caught off the Pier this month. Most of the fish are under a foot long, but there have been some notable exceptions. Fish of 18 inches or better have been fairly common, and a few keepers of 22 inches and up were landed. We may see more keeper Grouper come over the rail this month, as they don’t seem to mind the cooler water. Keep in mind that there is a seasonal closure on Grouper during February and March.

Flounder action off Pier 60 has been better than we have seen it in years, but there were just a few flatties caught this month. When the weather stabilizes, and the cold fronts quit blowing near-gale force winds, we will see more, I’m sure. Flounder like small live minnows, shrimp, and lures.

Ryan with a feisty Little Tunny

Some out-of-the-ordinary catches occurred this month on Pier 60. Albacore or Little Tunny, commonly but mistakenly called Bonito, showed up at the end of the Pier this month. No doubt they were attracted to the schools of baitfish present. One of our seasoned fishermen was literally spooled by one of these powerful tunas, but his son, Ryan, was able to muscle his fish to the landing net successfully.

Incidental catches this month included Lizardfish, Blowfish, Mangrove Snapper, Black Sea Bass, Grey Grunt, and Clear-nosed Skate. We also saw some Drum, including a Black Drum of 36”, and a Redfish of 33” caught on cut bait.

Lots of small Sharks were caught and released this month. They included BlackTip Shark, BonnetHead Shark, and most interestingly, Florida Smooth Hound Shark. The latter has blunt teeth, and feeds on live squid. The literature says they are not uncommon in these waters, but it is the first I had heard of them. All Sharks were released unharmed, as we have a no-kill policy here on Pier 60 regarding all Sharks.

Pick your days to fish here in January with an eye to the weather.

Capt'n Tom

When the water is stirred up, and the winds are howling out of the North, you probably won’t do well unless you can stand cold winds and have a lot of patience. Best to wait until the weather stabilizes between the cold fronts, when the fish will be hungry, and they can see or smell the baits.

Good Luck Fishing!

Enjoy these fishing photos of December 2009 catches off Clearwater Beach’s Pier 60.

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Capt'n Tom

Great fishing continued though the month of November at Pier 60. Morning anglers consistently started off with Spanish Mackerel, hitting lures, live baits, and cut bait. On some days the larger fish are caught early, and fished deeper. King Mackerel are also making an appearance, with a few nice fish taken, and many other larger Kings lost.

Dave's flounder

Flounder action has been the best in years. The Flounder have been biting on live fish, live shrimp, and cut bait. Every day we have seen plenty of keepers, and a few fish over 18”.

Cobia are about, and a few fish have been landed, but still undersize. The larger fish have all gotten off, many at the first sight of the pier net. Tarpon were still here in the early part of the month, and we had a few jumps, but no fisherman was able to get more than that first dramatic leap from the Silver King.

Ian with 21 inch grouper caught and released 12/13/09

There have been a variety of other fish caught throughout the month of November. Gag Grouper along with a few Red Grouper were caught and released. A few Mangrove Snapper were brought up, but the larger, legal-sized fish have not shown up yet.

John's Snook

Snook fishing was excellent on Pier 60 in November. Fish moving off the beaches to the passes hang around the Pier at night, and have been hitting live fish free-lined under the lights. On a recent night, a school of BallyHoo took refuge under the lights, and dozens of Snook were lined up, taking pot-shots at them. Long soft plastics worked wonders when fished to mimic the BallyHoo. One fisherman caught two Snook on live baits, and three on artificials. That’s the end of the Snook season here, as Snook are protected during December, January, and February. As the cold fronts have finally started to arrive in earnest, the Snook will all move away from Pier 60, and enter the pass, looking for the warmer backwaters, as weather dictates.

Spotted Sea Trout season is still closed in November and December, but the fish are here, arriving to feed at night under the lights. On a recent night I saw hundreds of nice fish, with a few great big Gator Trout, milling about under the swarms of small baitfish surrounding the pier. It is best to use a circle hook to reduce mortality if you go after Trout this month, as they tend to swallow a J-hook.

Silver Trout and Whiting have arrived with the cooler weather, and are biting a variety of cut baits. The Silvers tend to school in deeper water, while the Whiting tend to the sandy shallower areas. Look for more of these two as temperatures trend lower.

A few nice Redfish and Black Drum have been hooked, fought, and released. This battling duo often swims together here, and powerful fighters they are. These fish are large, going over 40”, and have the muscle to test gear and stamina of experienced fishermen.

Dustin from Michigan with Sheepshead caught on Pier 60

Sheepshead are starting to show up, with a few fish taken off the pilings using small crabs and shrimp. As the water cools, more of these convicts will gather around the pilings to feed. A small hook and small baits will help catch these tasty Sheepies.

Dozens of small sharks can be seen some nights, roaming about, feeding on fish trimmings. These include Bonnethead Sharks, Blacktip Sharks, Bull Sharks, and Lemon Sharks. Some are caught, but we have an all-release shark policy here.

Cold fronts pushing though this month will bring both storms and opportunity for targeting Bluefish, Jacks, and Kingfish. Even Bonita, usually found further offshore, have been seen around the end of the pier. Sheepshead fishing should get better, as those larger fish congregate to feed around structure.

Fishing will vary widely this month, but there will be plenty of opportunities to get some action between cold fronts, as the fish feed heavily before bad weather arrives, and even during the associated rains and storms.

Good Luck Fishing!

In October and November 2009, visitors are enjoying great success on Clearwater Beach’s Pier 60 on the beautiful Gulf of Mexico. Proud fishing visitors show off Flounder, Snook, Kingfish and Redfish catches.

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Capt'n Tom

The weather in October was sweltering, and the fishing on Pier 60 was HOT!

Spanish Mackerel continue to be caught starting at first light, and throughout the day. The Mackerel feed best on live minnows caught on the Pier, but will also take a lure, live shrimp, or strip bait. Most of the fish have been 15” and up, but early-risers have caught many Macks over 20”, fishing deeper with larger baits.

A few stray King Mackerel were hooked, providing a sizzling run on large live baits presented under a float. Most of these lone Kingfish overmatched fishermen’s gear, but a few fish were landed in the 15-25 lb range. Look for more big “Smokers” as the water cools in November.

Cobia have been caught daily on the Pier, but most of those fish have been undersize. Larger fish of 48” or so have appeared from time to time, but have managed to wrap a piling and get away. Big Cobia are powerful, and it takes both skill and luck to get a keeper away from obstacles and into a waiting landing net without having him bolt at the first sight of the net. Cobia always seem to have a reserve burst of energy just when you think they are whipped….so be warned.

Tarpon are still about, but not in huge numbers. A few large fish have been jumped, and they straightened, threw, or broke the hook. Silver Kings bit early in the day or near sundown. These fish will leave the area as the weather cools.

Snook have continued to hang around the area, feeding at night or early morning. Successful anglers have been getting hits on large Greenbacks or small Ladyfish. Most of the Snook have been slot-sized keepers, 28”-33”, a few fish have been over, and zero reports of small fish. In November, Snook will migrate off the beaches, into the passes, and then back into the bay. As these fish move, they pause at Pier 60 for a snack, and provide great excitement and excellent eating for those who target them.

Jericho and Felicia with some Pier 60 Flounders

We have seen more Flounder on Pier 60 this year than ever! All through October the flatties have been active and have provided a daily addition to the catches. Most all the Flounder we have seen were well over the 12-inch minimum, with many over 20”. Flounder have been biting on live shrimp, small minnows, and cut baits.

Big schools of Redfish mixed with Black Drum have shown up occasionally both day and night, swimming lazily in formation past the end of the Pier. Live baits and cut bait have been successful in getting some of these fish to bite. The Reds and Drum have all been around the same size, about 48” and perhaps 30 lbs. After a bruising fight and strong battle, all of these oversize fish were released by exhausted anglers.

Spotted Sea Trout show up nightly at Pier 60, and quite a few nice fish over 20” were taken once the fish quit looking and started biting. Small minnows are the choice bait for them, but lures will work also. November starts the closed season on the Spotted Sea Trout, and since trout don’t do well as catch-and-release, most anglers stop targeting them during the closed season.

Whiting are one of the staples of winter fishing at the Pier, and they have been waiting for fall to arrive to show up. A few days of cold weather and falling water temperatures will no doubt bring more than the incidental catch we have seen in October.

Sheepshead are feeding on the barnacle-encrusted pilings here, and those who know how have successfully nabbed a few of them. A small hook, careful eye, and light line help ensure success. The Sheepies like small crabs, small bits of shrimp and other delicacies, and have been from 1-3 lbs. As the water cools, more and larger fish will be taken.

Almost daily, a feeding spectacle we call a “Jack Attack” occurs as schools of hungry Jack Crevalle force bait schools to the surface, where a feeding frenzy occurs. The surface of the water literally erupts as the Jacks thrash and slash in a wild display for a minute or so. Some of the Jacks are as large as 24 “, and although not known as good table fare, they fight with a tenacity rarely rivaled in the fish world.

A few Mangrove Snapper have been caught lately, sized anywhere from a keeper 10” to a nice 15”. Not a consistent catch this month, the Snapper have been here one day, and absent the next.

There have been a few Gag and even Red Grouper caught this month, but there have been no fish of legal size. Still, it bodes well that they hang around the Pier. No doubt there will be some shallow-water Grouper of legal size taken as the water cools off in November.

As always, when you have a lot of fish, there will be predators and scavengers. Sharks of many species are an incidental catch, since we do not allow “Shark Fishing” on Pier 60. Hammerhead Sharks are usually prowling around when the Tarpon are here, and we have seen some beautiful 6-footers fought and released. Spinner Sharks are also in the area, and provide a thrilling display of aerial acrobatics when they feel a hook. A five-foot, 70-pound rocket-powered torpedo-with-teeth arching out of the water and spinning as it goes is a sight that will make most anglers and sightseers gasp in awe! Bonnethead or Shovelnose Sharks, Blacktip Shark, and Bull Sharks are common around the Pier. No doubt that some strikes and runs that are completely one-sided affairs are big Bull Sharks taking a bait and running towards Mexico.

Good Luck Fishing!