I lived between Tampa and Clearwater in Oldsmar for years and the Clearwater Pier was one of the first places I went fishing when I had a free moment.
The pier is long and crowded at times, but it has most everything you need to be a good fishing pier in the Tampa – St. Petersburg – Clearwater area. The scenery isn’t bad either during daytime!
We have a large list of 19 Best Florida Fishing Piers in Florida. If you want to check out some more!
What Time Does the Clearwater Pier 60 Open? Close?
7 am. they open every day of the week and 9 pm. they close. This is rather sad because you can’t stay all night here any more.
I remember staying overnight here once and I can’t remember if it was the official policy or if the security guy just didn’t want to walk all the way to the end of the pier to tell us to leave. Things were easier back then!
If you do want to fish all night, or fish late and sleep in your car on the pier, you can choose the Sunshine Skyway Fishing Pier at the south end of St. Petersburg on the way to Bradenton and Sarasota.
How Big is the Fishing Area?
The way the pier is built there is a 170m (186 yd) section that is over sand and obviously you’re not catching any fish there. Once you are over the water into a little bit of depth you have about 165m (180 yd) of pier to fish from.
Remember, there are 2 sides to the pier so you have 330m (361 yd) of space straight out to the end of Pier 60 and at the end there is a large rectangular area that adds another 54m (59 yd) of fishing area.
A grand total of about 384m (420 yd) of fishing space. Quite a lot of space to fish! Something like 100 anglers could be out at the same time and it wouldn’t feel that crowded… as far as pier fishing goes.
If you’ll be carrying your bait bucket or other heavy gear, you’re going to need a cart, wagon, or something to help you get it to the fishing spot unless you want to Hulk it and carry it straight out there.
What Fish Can You Catch?
My usual target when I head to the Clearwater Fishing Pier 60 is Spanish Mackerel or Speckled Sea Trout. I’ll usually read some reports and see when they’re around and then head over for a couple of hours.
Common Fish Caught at Pier 60
- snook
- redfish (red drum)
- speckled sea trout
- Spanish mackerel
- flounder
- cobia (rare)
- black sea bass
- perch
- pinfish (a great bait)
- ladyfish
- catfish
- whiting
- Jack Crevalle occasionally
Does the Pier Have a Bait Shop?
Yes, you can buy frozen bait at the shack right on the pier. They have shrimp, squid, and sometimes cut bait or small dead bait fish. The shop opens at 7 am. same as the pier. They have hooks, sinkers, floats, nets, and lots of other stuff anglers need while fishing on a pier.
Places to Eat? Restroom? Shade?
The pier has some Pier 60 Concessions area at the beginning of the pier where you can get hotdogs, fries, burgers, pizza, and soft drinks. They open around 9 am. and close at 5 or 6 pm. There are MANY great restaurants on the beach in Clearwater. An old favorite of mine near the sand volleyball courts is called Frenchy’s.
They have a Grouper Sandwich and a She-Crab soup that are both mindblowing. Highly recommended and they have changed little over all these years. It’s worth the 700m (766 yd) – about 1/2 mile up the beach going north. Walk up the beach and sit down for a cold one and a great sandwich and soup!
Yes, there’s a public restroom on the pier at the baithouse!
There are some roofs covering parts of the pier which provide shade for really hot days. Benches line the fishing area too.
Is a Fishing License Included in the Fee?
If you’re fishing, the rates are variable depending on age and what you’re doing. For the daily rates listed below, add $8 if you need a day pass to fish because you don’t have a fishing license.
If you want to buy a fishing license before coming, you can get one at Walmart. If you’re going to fish more than a couple of times at piers it probably makes a lot of sense economically to buy a saltwater fishing license.
Fees at Pier 60 for Fishing (Add $8 if you need a license)
Fishing Fees
- Adults 16+: $8
- Seniors: $6.75
- Children 15 and under: $5.25
Weekly Fishing Pass (7 days)
- Adults 16+: $30
- Seniors: $25
- Children 15 and under: $20
Monthly Fishing Pass (30 days)
- Adults 16+: $60
- Seniors: $50
Yearly Fishing Pass
- Adults: $250
- Seniors: $200
If you want to walk the length of the pier for fun or fitness, there is a $1 charge for pedestrians using the full length of the pier.
Keep in mind, there are piers where you can do a lot more and spend similar money. The St. Pete Pier is free to fish on. The Sunshine Skyway Pier costs around the same but you can do so much more there.
Is Rental Gear (Rod and Reel) Available?
Yes, and in 2022 it is $8 for the day for a rod and reel. You’ll probably want to buy hooks, sinkers, and other gear when you rent or beforehand at Walmart to save a few dollars.
Can You Play Music? Grill? Bring Chairs?
I’d say you can do none of those activities here. Managed piers like this are rarely big enough to afford to hire someone to go sort out problems caused by people taking up too much space or being too loud.
Typical fishing pier rules are in effect at Pier 60. The list is below. Oh, and if you want to play music, grill, sleep in a tent or in your car ON the pier, just go to the Sunshine Skyway Pier south of here by 30 minutes.
Prohibited List
- Tents
- Fires, grill
- Alcohol
- Pets
- Music
- Swimming around the Pier in the fishing section (there is a swimming section)
- Smoking
- Beach Umbrellas
Where is the Pier Located?
The Clearwater Fishing Pier is on the beach side of Clearwater the city, at Clearwater Beach. The map below shows you the red marker for the pier on the far left. The address is: 1 Causeway Blvd, Clearwater, FL 33767. The GPS coordinates of the building at the end of the pier are [ 27°58’39.8″N 82°49’56.1″W]
Is a Live Web Cam on the Pier?
Yes there is, here. You can see the weather and guess how crowded the pier is from that camera. Here’s a hint, it’s always crowded on the weekends but not many people in the early morning. Evenings on weekdays can get crowded too.
Where’s the Closest Fishing Pier to Me?
If you live in St. Petersburg, Clearwater, or Tampa you can choose from any of the nice piers close to you in the list at the bottom of the page. We have big fishing guides for all the major piers in Florida.
Where’s Parking?
There is space for 154 cars, including handicapped spots right on the beach beside the pier, it is not a long walk. This is uncovered parking so bring your window shades, the sun in Clearwater can be intense!
Cautions
If you’re planning on walking into the water around the pier, do be very careful of stingrays hidden just under the sand where they are nearly invisible. I stepped on a stingray tail and it made for a horrible ending to a day of fishing! Here’s the story >
3-Minute Video of the Clearwater Fishing Pier 60
Clearwater Fishing Pier 60 Website and Social Media
- Call them at this phone number: +1 727-462-6466
- Their Facebook page is here.
- An Instagram search turns up hundreds of photos. The place has a lot to see and people are keen to take pictures of themselves enjoying the view, sunset, and things to do.
Fishing Piers Close to Pier 60 in Clearwater
- Clearwater Pier 60
- Gulf Fishing Pier at Fort De Soto State Park
- St. Pete Pier
- Sunshine Skyway Fishing Pier
[Image credits: Images not marked with credits taken from their official website, videos, and FB pages.]