The whizzing sound of reels and the sight of rods are back at Clearwater Beach’s Pier 60.

A portion of the pier reopened Monday, nearly a year after hurricane damage forced it to close. Repairs to the bait house alone topped $300,000, covering new walls, flooring, lighting, and fixtures. The shop now rents rods and sells a wide range of items, from snacks to souvenirs.

For regulars, it’s a welcome return.

“I fell in love with this place in 1999 when I first came here, and I’ve been living here for five years now,” Matt Steiner told Bay News 9. “It’s very nice to see people fishing on it again.”

Visitors are equally excited. “Always wondered what it would be like, but it was always closed, so it’s nice to actually experience this part of the beach,” said Willie Hurst Sr.

Fishing is available daily from 7 a.m. to 10 p.m., with entry at the bait house.

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(Image credit: WFLA)

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