Pier 60 Fishing

Pier 60 is the centerpiece of Clearwater Beach: a long concrete pier from the busiest stretch of sand straight out over clear Gulf water. It is the easiest place in Pinellas County to try pier fishing with the family.

• Fishing over the inner troughs and in deeper water at the T in one walk.
• A bait house with bait, tackle, rod rentals and snacks where the fishing section begins.
• The nightly Sunsets at Pier 60 festival runs in the park beside it, so there is plenty to do for non-anglers.
• The fishing section reopened on September 1, 2025, after the 2024 hurricanes; the city is still planning longer-term repairs.

Pier 60 sits at the west end of Causeway Boulevard in Clearwater Beach, where the Memorial Causeway meets the beach.

• Getting there: cross the Memorial Causeway from downtown Clearwater and follow signs for Pier 60 Park.
• Parking: paid city lots and garages near the beach; spaces fill early on sunny weekends and during spring break.
• Fee: you pay to fish at the bait house; daily, weekly and monthly fishing passes were sold when the pier reopened.
• Hours: since the reopening the bait house has been open 7 a.m. to 10 p.m. daily, and Pier 60 Park 6 a.m. to 9 p.m.; check the city's posted hours.
• Surface: a level concrete deck from the beach, past the bait house, out to the T.
• Transit: the Jolley Trolley's coastal route and local buses serve Clearwater Beach.

A Gulf beach pier that fishes best when bait is in close.

• Spring (Mar–May): Spanish mackerel, pompano and the first snook; the odd kingfish off the T.
• Summer (Jun–Aug): snook along the beach and pilings, mangrove snapper, ladyfish, and tarpon passing offshore.
• Fall (Sep–Nov): the fall mackerel run, pompano, redfish near the beach and sheepshead starting.
• Winter (Dec–Feb): sheepshead on the pilings, whiting in the troughs and quieter days when fronts cool the water.

Light to medium spinning gear covers most of it.

• Mackerel: 1/2 oz spoons or Gotcha plugs on 30 lb leader, fast retrieve, or a free-lined whitebait.
• Pompano and whiting: a two-hook bottom rig with 1–2 oz of lead and sand fleas or shrimp, or a small pompano jig.
• Snook: live whitebait on a 1/0 circle hook and 30–40 lb fluorocarbon, fished along the pilings near the beach.
• Snapper and sheepshead: a small knocker rig or a split shot and shrimp dropped beside the pilings.
• Landing: a pier net helps with anything over a few pounds.

Gulf tides here are mixed: on most days two uneven highs and lows, with a typical range of about 2.5 feet.

• Best: a moving tide in the morning; the incoming often brings clean water and bait to the beach.
• Wind: light east or southeast winds flatten the surf and clear the water; strong onshore west winds stir it up and push weed in.
• Water: clear green water is the key for mackerel and pompano.
• Light: early mornings before the crowds, and evenings until closing, are the most productive.

A wide concrete deck with level access, suitable for wheelchairs and strollers.

• Crowds: busy with walkers and sightseers; cast overhead carefully and watch your backcast.
• Lightning: summer afternoon storms roll in fast off the Gulf; head for shore at the first thunder.
• Swimmers: the beach either side is a swimming beach, so keep casts along the pier, never toward swimmers.
• Sun and heat: little shade on the deck.
• Rip currents: do not wade out beside the pier in rough surf.

This is one of the best-served spots on the coast.

• Bait house: bait, tackle, rod rentals, drinks, snacks and souvenirs.
• Restrooms: public restrooms in Pier 60 Park.
• Food: many restaurants and cafés within a short walk along the beach.
• Parking: paid lots and garages nearby.
• Other: playgrounds, a pavilion for rent and the nightly Sunsets at Pier 60 festival in the park beside the pier.

• Fish the first hour after the bait house opens; by late morning the deck and beach are crowded.
• When mackerel are around, watch for diving birds and throw where the bait is showering.
• Sand fleas from the beach, or shrimp from the bait house, are the baits for pompano and whiting.
• In summer, walk the inner part of the pier slowly and look for snook shadows on the sand below.
• Park early or use the Jolley Trolley on event days and spring break weekends.
• Check the city's notices before a trip; the pier reopened after temporary repairs and longer-term work is still being planned.

Pier 60 is operated by the City of Clearwater.

• Fishing requires a paid pass from the bait house, bought during its opening hours.
• Clearwater bans fishing from its public beaches in any designated swim area, so fish from the pier.
• Follow posted pier rules on cast netting, gear and behavior.
• A Florida saltwater fishing license is required unless you are exempt; check with the bait house whether your pier pass covers you before relying on it.
• Shore-based shark fishing needs a free FWC permit, and tarpon have release rules.
• Check current FWC rules for size, bag and season limits before keeping anything.