Warmer Waters Improves Fishing
April fishing on Pier 60 has shown a great improvement!
Anglers were able to get out and enjoy the sunshine and catch quite a few fish.
Silver Perch or Butterfish have been showing up in good numbers, and are caught either with small pieces of cut bait, or a multiple-hook rig with cut baits. Though they are small, Butterfish provide a tasty meal of tiny fillets. The old-timers would pan-fry them whole and serve with grits for breakfast.
Whiting have also been caught in decent numbers at night, biting best on cut baits. Squid is usually the bait of choice for them.
Water temperatures have moved into the 70’s in April, and a variety of species followed this warmer water close to shore.
Spanish Mackerel are around in good numbers, taking small baitfish suspended under a float, or biting well also on live shrimp under a float. The Mackerel also readily take a variety of lures; practically any lure that has a bit of flash and looks like a small wounded fish will usually draw a strike. Got-Cha plugs and small spoons work very well here, as do some of the larger Sabiki rigs.
When the waters reach the mid-70’s, King Mackerel make an appearance along the beaches. The solitary “Smoker Kings” ambush smaller fish, including Spanish Mackerel, with an unusual and exciting aerial display we call “Skyrocketing”. The Kingfish will jump high out of the water, arching upwards of ten feet high, and crash down on the intended victim, jaws agape, slicing it in half. It’s quite an awesome sight to behold, and by fishing with a large Blue Runner or other baitfish held near the surface, is one favorite way to hook a big King Mackerel. They are both strong and fast, and have a lot of stamina to test the abilities of even the most experienced fishermen.
Cobia are also showing up in good numbers, prowling about the pilings looking for an easy meal. The Cobia is curious and not at all shy, and usually shows up as a solitary fish swimming just under the surface. Cobia are also known to follow larger animals, like the Manatee, Eagle Rays, or Sea Turtles, and are hooked many times by tossing a fish or crab behind one of these larger cruising denizens. Cobia are one of the fastest-growing of our gamefish, and can get over 50 lbs in just a few years. To be a keeper, Cobia must be at least 33 inches long, measured to the fork of the tail. The Cobia will also seem unafraid of a hook and line, sometimes not seeming to be aware that he has been hooked until well into the fight. When he does wake up to the fact that he is in a battle, he becomes a thrashing torpedo, and will fight with abandon until he is totally whipped or breaks off.
We have seen many different kinds of undersize gamefish caught and released this month, including a few undersize Redfish, Flounder, and Snook. There have also been undersize Gag Grouper, Black Drum, Black Sea Bass, and Mangrove Snapper.
In addition, there have been some nice Pompano up to 16” taken, but they have been spotty. Bluefish and Ladyfish have been caught here and there, and is another sign that recovery from the cold winter is well in progress. Good quantities of Sheepshead are gathered around the pilings, nibbling on barnacles and small crustaceans.
Spotted Sea Trout fishing has been good, with quite a few keeper Trout taken at night. Best baits for them are live shrimp free-lined or small live minnows under a float. Trout need to be at least 16”, and one fish of the daily bag limit of four may be over 20”. We have seen quite a few fish over 20” this month, with a few Trout going over 24”.
With all the sealife around the Pier, there are bound to be Sharks, and many different species were seen or caught and released in April. Bull Shark, BlackTip Shark, Bonnethead Shark, and Great Hammerhead Shark were all seen recently here, but please remember that we have a no-kill policy here for all Sharks. We want them released unharmed, and that may mean just cutting the line once they are close, or de-hooked gently if they are small.
We are looking forward to a great summer season of fishing here on Pier 60. Tarpon will show up any day now, and there will be many exciting runs, jumps, and break-offs due to the “Silver King”.
We do have a fisheries emergency in place because of the oil well blow-out in the northern Gulf of Mexico, but it is too early to tell if and when we may see oil fouling our area. We can only hope that winds and currents keep the oil away from our beaches, and that the well is capped soon.
Good Luck Fishing!


























