Steve
6th August 2009, 09:48 PM
If you are at Clearwater Beach and fancy something a bit different, whether you're a fisherman or not I can recommend fishing off of the pier at Clearwater.
I don't do any fishing at all at any other time but I must say I find it very enjoyable. You can hire the rods and can get live bait (Shrimp) or squid for around $18 for the day all in. You don't need floats or anything like that you just put your bait on the end of your line and away you go.
The types of fish that you can catch are quite varied I have seen many types caught. Including Spanish mackerel, Copia (member of the shark family), Catfish (watch the spines), Grouper, puffer fish, Sheepshead and many more. I have even seen a small hammerhead shark being landed. There are always a few locals there that will tell you what sort of fish it is that you have caught!
When I lowered my line over the side I just let it go down around the legs of the pier and immediately you feel the fish snapping aggressively at your bait, many times taking it off the line. Once you get the hang of it and know when to strike you find that you have caught it even the smallest fish can put up quite a fight. They have rules there where if the fish is under a certain size it has to go back. If it is big enough you can take it home with you to eat or give it to one of the locals. The thing is be careful when handling or removing the hook from these fish as some have a nasty set of teeth! If you have any problems just ask a local to help you.
It has amazed me the size and variety of fish that are so close to the shore at Clearwater. As I say it's a great way spend a few hours relaxing and catching a few rays watching the dolphins playing. I look forward to my next visit. <:widegrin
Funny thing was the fish in the first picture below was the biggest one we caught, well my stepson Jason caught and there was a young guy from New York with his girlfriend just up from us and he said he would have it, take it back to his condo and cook it because the locals said it was "Good Eatin" So Jay gave him the fish and it was still alive and was not going easily. This guy put it in his polystyrene cool box and within a few minutes it had smashed the sides out of it...lol His girlfriend was trying to hold the box together while he dashed off to buy a new cool box. <:lol
I don't do any fishing at all at any other time but I must say I find it very enjoyable. You can hire the rods and can get live bait (Shrimp) or squid for around $18 for the day all in. You don't need floats or anything like that you just put your bait on the end of your line and away you go.
The types of fish that you can catch are quite varied I have seen many types caught. Including Spanish mackerel, Copia (member of the shark family), Catfish (watch the spines), Grouper, puffer fish, Sheepshead and many more. I have even seen a small hammerhead shark being landed. There are always a few locals there that will tell you what sort of fish it is that you have caught!
When I lowered my line over the side I just let it go down around the legs of the pier and immediately you feel the fish snapping aggressively at your bait, many times taking it off the line. Once you get the hang of it and know when to strike you find that you have caught it even the smallest fish can put up quite a fight. They have rules there where if the fish is under a certain size it has to go back. If it is big enough you can take it home with you to eat or give it to one of the locals. The thing is be careful when handling or removing the hook from these fish as some have a nasty set of teeth! If you have any problems just ask a local to help you.
It has amazed me the size and variety of fish that are so close to the shore at Clearwater. As I say it's a great way spend a few hours relaxing and catching a few rays watching the dolphins playing. I look forward to my next visit. <:widegrin
Funny thing was the fish in the first picture below was the biggest one we caught, well my stepson Jason caught and there was a young guy from New York with his girlfriend just up from us and he said he would have it, take it back to his condo and cook it because the locals said it was "Good Eatin" So Jay gave him the fish and it was still alive and was not going easily. This guy put it in his polystyrene cool box and within a few minutes it had smashed the sides out of it...lol His girlfriend was trying to hold the box together while he dashed off to buy a new cool box. <:lol