Pier 60 Fishing Report

Some fishing photos of Summer 2011.
Enjoy!

Dec. 2010 sheepshead on Pier 60

December is the month of changes on Pier 60. The first week the water temperatures were still close to 70 degrees, and with it we had Spanish Mackerel, Flounder, Silver Trout, Sheepshead and Whiting caught. Then a strong weather system brought high winds, waves, and plummeting water and air temperatures. For almost a week winds over 15 knots kept the fishing success to a minimum. The winds moderated during a brief lull before the next front crashed through. During that window of opportunity, Flounder, Whiting, Silver Trout and Sheepshead were taken. The next front brought the water temperatures down into the 40’s, and the water was roiled by high surf and winds above 30 knots.

So the pattern shows fishing success is possible between fronts, as the air stabilizes, the sun comes out, and warms the water a bit. Plan your fishing accordingly.

A cleaning table provided for fishing visitors on Clearwater’s Pier 60.

We have had some customers enjoying great success catching Butterfish, both daytime and night-time angling. One Dad and son visiting from up north caught and released over 150 fish on a recent evening. Mixed in were quite a few Whiting.

Best bet is to use a multiple hook Sabiki rig, using a bit of shrimp on each hook. Multiple fish can be taken at a time, and once the bite is on, the Butterfish don’t even need the bit of shrimp to mob your line.

Butterfish are tiny, but a six-incher will allow a couple of tiny and tasty fillets. Or, you can cook them in the pan whole, and have them for breakfast with eggs and grits, like the Florida crackers did.

Fishing for Whiting in the weeks ahead should be productive. Squid works well for them, using a double-hook rig, and fishing over the sandy areas around the pier.

Capt'n Tom

Sheepshead should be an available target, chumming around the pilings with bits of shrimp or oyster. A Sand Flea is a tasty morsel to present on a small strong hook, but you have to develop the knack for setting the hook before the bait is stripped off.

Spotted Sea Trout season is open in January. Look for Trout in the evening, using live shrimp or a tandem grubtail lure tipped with a bit of fresh shrimp. Other offerings are productive, including MirroLures or Topwater plugs.

Good Luck Fishing!

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!

Capt' Tom

July 2009 Pier 60 Fishing Report

July has been a fabulous time to fish at Pier 60.

In the heat of summertime, the fishing starts early, with Spanish Mackerel showing up just after first light. The Mackerel like live shrimp, plugs, spoons, or best of all, a lively minnow brought up on a Sabiki rig. The largest Mackerel have been caught early in the day.

As the day heats up, the fishing generally slows, but the Mackerel show up again from time to time throughout the day.

A few large Bluefish have been taken early in the day with one going over 26 inches.

Schools of Jacks also arrive, often with a feeding frenzy that might last a few minutes. At these times, the Jack Crevalle will take almost any offering, but baits that mimic the local whitebait usually get the most attention. Not known a good table fare, the battling brutes are fun to catch, as they fight like a fish twice their size.

During daylight hours a great variety of fish have been landed, including small Barracuda, Whiting, Black Sea Bass, small Grouper, Key West Grunt, Spadefish, Mangrove Snapper and Sheepshead. More Hogfish were caught in July, a good indicator of the healthy reef system just off the pier.

There have been quite a few Flounder caught recently, including a 19-incher caught by Michael Knapp. Most Flounder go after live shrimp, but the larger ones have been enticed by a smallish lively sardine.

Tandem jigs tipped with a bit of fresh shrimp have also been very effective on the Flounder.

Cobia have been showing up consistently, but only about a third of the fish landed have been keepers of 33 inches or more. Many of the Cobia have been between 24 and 30 inches, and will be legal keepers soon after being released, as they are fast-growers.

Tarpon are still about, and can be seen rolling and gulping air off the ends of the pier in the calm of the morning. Many times the silver kings will bite during the afternoon, taking a live greenback or Pinfish suspended under a float. Most of the fish jump and shake the hook, and other times take off under the pier to wrap around a piling. But there have been some fish successfully caught and released in the 60-pound class.

Dark clouds of small baitfish surround the pier, and attract all the other predators to the area. Working the edges of the bait pods has been a successful technique for many.

Spotted Sea Trout fishing has been very good at night, with schools of Trout cruising around the lights closer to the bait house. Trout have also been caught before sunset, but the best fishing for them is after dark. Live baits work best, but a white grub tail tandem jig has produced many fish too.

Snook fishing has been great during July. The fish usually can be seen feeding or cruising around during the day, with quite a few fish caught and released in the mornings and late afternoon. But the linesiders bite best at night, taking a large Greenback minnow or small Ladyfish. At times, the Snook have even been taken on frozen shrimp on a steel ready-rig leader. It has not been unusual to have a dozen Snook caught during one night alone. Snook season is still closed throughout August, so all Snook must be released.

Please remember that there is a two-rod limit for each fisherman on Pier 60, and cast nets are not allowed to be on, or used here.

New fishing regulations have taken effect in August, with a shore-based permit required for Florida residents. However, when fishing at Pier 60, no license is required for anyone, as we have a blanket fishing permit for all fishermen, residents or not.

Good Luck Fishing!

Capt’ Tom