Great Fishing in April!
May 17, 2012
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Posted by Capt'n Tom
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. 1st. The fishing day is from 6 AM until 6 AM the next day.
Good Luck Fishing!
Categories: Fishing Reports
