Pier 60 Fishing Report

Capt'n Tom

June means summer is in full swing, and fishing on Pier 60 has heated up as well.

We are still seeing a lot of Spanish Mackerel action first thing in the morning. The Macks have been hitting free-lined shrimp, small minnows, or plugs that mimic those small fish. We have also seen a smattering of undersize small King Mackerel mixed in with the Spanish. It is important to know how to tell the difference, as the King Mackerel needs to be at least 24 inches to the fork of the tail, while the Spanish need only to be 12 inches to the fork in order to be a legal keeper fish.

Tarpon are traveling in pods up and down the beach, and as they move past, offer a chance to hook up with the “Silver King”. Most of the fish are in the 50 to 80 pound class, but fish over 100 pounds have been hooked and jumped. Tarpon fishermen have been getting hits on live Pinfish or Grunts suspended under a float.

Snook caught June 2010 on Pier 60

Snook are all along the beaches and in the passes. Best time to get in a tussle with one of these bruisers is in the very early mornings, or late at night. The bite usually lasts an hour or two in the evening, and most anglers have found catch-and-release success using live Pinfish, Grunt, or Ladyfish. Many of the fish being caught are females well over 40 inches, and are survivors of the winter’s cold spells. It is hoped that these spawning fish will replenish the stock of this gamefish whose numbers were severely curtailed during the winter.

Spotted Sea Trout, June 2010

Spotted Sea Trout are showing up during the day here and there, but the best time to target them is at night. Live shrimp, small live sardines, and grubtail lures tipped with a bit of fresh shrimp are working best. Quite a few Trout over 20 inches have been taken.

A few Redfish are starting to show up, and most are in the keeper slot size of 18 to 27 inches. Reds like shrimp best, but the larger fish will readily take a small live fish on the bottom.

Pompano action has been fairly steady, with a few fish taken daily. Some of the Pompano have been in excess of 18 inches, and are quite colorful, with their golden bellies contrasting against their bluish-silver sides. Pompano have been biting jigs and live shrimp.

Sheepshead can be seen feeding around the pilings during daylight hours, and some fishermen have caught a limit of ten fish in an afternoon. Success requires patience, a light touch, and the right bait and presentation.

Schools of Jack Crevalle make an appearance daily by rushing, en masse, into a school of fry or small baitfish, churning the water’s surface into a boiling mass for a minute or so. Jacks, although not considered good table fare, are a determined and strong fighter that break tackle with the initial hit and sustained powerful fight.

Cobia are migrating down the coast, and Pier 60 provides ideal structure for a prowling crab-eater. Some of the fish have been just undersize, but there have been a few keepers over 33 inches caught on live baits fished on the bottom. Cobia are inquisitive and opportunistic, and many times will follow the Manatees as they move up and down the beaches during the day.

A few Flounder were caught in June, with a few fish in the 18-inch range. Most have been around 12 inches, taken on live shrimp.

Whiting have been showing up in decent numbers over sandy bottom areas mid-way out on the Pier, and have been partial to cut shrimp and squid.

Lots of small Sharks have been caught and released this month, with the majority being BlackTip Sharks. BonnetHead Sharks are also here in abundance, and are seen mostly at night.

Some of the largest Key West Grunts seen inshore in years have been caught recently. Some of the Grunts have measured up to 15 inches, and provide tasty fillets. Grunts have been biting on squid and shrimp.

Other species we have seen this month include Undersize Gag Grouper, Blue Runner, Bluefish, Black Sea Bass, and Ladyfish.

It’s a great time to get out and experience some of the best fishing of the year.

Good Luck Fishing!

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!

Paul DelPizzo proudly displays his flounder, caught this month on Pier 60.

Fishing from Pier 60 in March improved greatly as the weather warmed.

Daytime fishing really heated up as the water cleared and began to climb towards the 70 degree mark.

Schools of baitfish were followed by Spanish Mackerel. At first the Mackerel were small for the most part, but now we have seen many fish over 20 inches taken. They are hitting small minnows, live shrimp, and lures. In addition to the Macks, we have seen many nice Flounder taken on live shrimp. Some of these flatties have been very respectable in size, over 16 inches. We have also seen a great variety of different species, including Gag Grouper, Mangrove Snapper, Pompano, Bluefish, Ladyfish, Sheepshead, Pompano and Cobia.

Butterfish and Whiting were the most popular nighttime catches. Spotted Sea trout were also showing up after dark, and quite a few keepers were taken on small live baits or live shrimp. Some evenings the Trout arrived in schools, with some anglers taking their limits of four fish in a couple of hours.

We can look forward to the rest of March heralding some of the best fishing of the year. Snook have been almost absent so far, with only one undersize fish taken as yet. But warmer conditions will send those larger fish arriving from the inside bay waters into a feeding frenzy off the beaches. Look for more schools of baitfish followed by Snook, Redfish, Mackerel, and the occasional Cobia. King Mackerel “Smokers” will be prowling just off the beach troughs, looking for a large offering to cut in half. Pompano fishing will also improve as waters fill with small baitfish and crabs. If you want to experience some of the best fishing of the year, come out early mornings and late evenings this month.

April first, Pier 60 hours will go back to a 24-hour, 7-day schedule.

Fishing in April is some of the most reliable of the year, with Snook and Trout the stars of the show. The Snook bite best at night, using only a free-lined Greenback minnow on a small stout live bait hook. No extra hardware should be used, or the fish will ignore the bait. Bait nets are not allowed on the Pier, so baitfish must be caught using a Sabiki rig.

Lures are also effective on Snook, with hot pink being the preferred color.

April also means the schools of Tarpon arrive off the beaches and to Pier 60. These acrobatic Silver Kings can be enticed with a live baitfish during the mornings and middle of the day. It is thrilling to see a large hundred-pound Tarpon rise to inhale a lively bait, and then to see him skyrocket and try to throw the hook is a sight you will not soon forget. This is a catch-and release fishery on Pier 60.

Good Luck Fishing!