Pier 60 Fishing Report

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!

Capt'n Tom Fishing Report

Fishing on Pier 60 in September was full of fun! The weather in September is some of the hottest of the year, and this September it was sweltering in the middle of the day. We didn’t experience any tropical storms, and there were no torrential rains to break the heat wave. There were some late afternoon and evening showers, but little to mar or interfere with fishing on the Pier.
Snook season started off a little slow, with the fish parading about under the lights at night, but taking little notice of the baits offered. Then, usually late at night, the fish began to feed and get hooked. There have been many Snook keepers this season, slot-sized fish from 28 to 33 inches more common than oversize fish. In seasons past we have seen more oversize fish caught and released, but this year there have been plenty of fish taken home. Snook are still biting at night or in the early morning, usually on a greenback minnow or live medium-sized Ladyfish freelined just next to the Pier. Regulars have been very successful with this year’s Snook fishing.

Bill from Plymouth, Devon, UK, displays Spanish Mackerel

Mackerel continue to feed first thing in the morning, taking a variety of lures or live natural baits. The Got-Cha lures have been very good for getting the toothy speedsters to bite. The best baits of all are still the little minnows brought up on a Sabiki lure, then presented under a float for the Spanish Mackerel. The largest fish usually show up early, but continue to feed throughout the day. Average size of the Mackerel has been about 15 inches, but plenty of fish over 20 inches have been taken as well.

A few big King Mackerel have been hooked and seen, usually taking half of a Spanish Mackerel as it is being reeled in. When the Kings have been hooked, it has been one-sided, with a screaming drag and broken line the usual outcome.

Tarpon are still in the area, and the “Silver King” has been a daily visitor at Pier 60. Most every day we get reports of Tarpon hooking up and jumping off here, and most of the bites involve 60 to 80 pound fish. A few Tarpon have been hooked and fought that would go well over 100 pounds, and there have been hooks straightened by fish that would weigh closer to 150 pounds. On a recent night, a big pod of large Tarpon chased a school of large Greenbacks under the pier, then proceeded to chase and gulp down most all of them, and also providing a thrilling but one-sided battle to fishermen just not equipped with heavy enough gear to turn the brutes.

Ryan with caught and released 24 lb. 38.5 inch Redfish.

Some big Redfish have been showing up recently, with fish of 38 to 40 inches caught and released. These fish are strong and fight all the way, giving a great battle to those prepared for it. Redfish will strain your gear and muscles to the limit, and will exploit any weakness to their advantage. Big smiles and shaking limbs from the battle are a sure sign that the Reds are here!

We have seen many Cobia this month, but all have been just shy of the 33-inch minimum. Still, they have provided lots of entertainment and activity during the heat of the day. The bigger keepers have just eluded the anglers, taking advantage of underwater obstacles to wrap around and break off.

Tony from Orlando and Flounder

Flounder have been a welcome and frequent catch this month, with flatties well over the legal minimum of 12 inches common. One big “Doormat” measured out at 20 inches. That’s a fish worth keeping!

We have seen a few Pompano this month, and also a few Bluefish. Undersize Groupers, both Gag and Red Grouper are not uncommon. A few Spadefish, and a few Sheepshead have also been landed.

Plenty of Jack Crevalle have been schooling about the Pier, and have provided lots of strong fight and shredded lines for excited fishermen.
Spotted Sea Trout have been schooling under the lights at night. They seem to be very particular on the bite, though. Most of the fish are keepers, over 15 inches, but the really big ones are waiting for the weather to cool a little bit. We should start to see “Gator” Trout to show up after the first real cold front moves through the area this month.
All in all, it has been great fishing on Pier 60, and it looks to be just as good in the weeks ahead. Remember, fishing hours have changed. As of October 1st, the Pier is open Sunday through Thursday 6:00 AM to 9:30 PM. Fridays and Saturdays we are still open all night for fishing.

Good Luck Fishing!

September 2009 brought great fishing. Catches includeresulted these fine photos of visitors with Snook, Flounder, Spanish Mackerel, Redfish, and Snappers.

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