The recent applications of WSN have started integrating Cognitive Radio (CR) technology to make sure unlicensed users in the communication also gain access over the vacant spectrum portions. This sensor network designed embedding CR technology is termed as Cognitive Radio Sensor Networks (CRSN) which overcomes the limitations of conventional WSNs by providing dynamic access mechanisms to accomplish efficient spectrum utilization. Since the CRSN is resource constrained, spectrum access mechanisms should incorporate overhead minimizing mechanisms. Clustering method has been explored in recent works of CRSN to enhance the network performance and minimize the transmission overhead. Since clustering allows communication in a more restricted manner, network resources such as node energy, link bandwidth can be utilized efficiently. Data transmission rate can be further enhanced as lesser number of nodes involve in communication. In this paper recent clustering protocols in CRSN are discussed briefly and the comparative performance analysis of some of these protocols is made. The experimental results are derived by simulation and the results are plotted for performance parameters such as Packet Delivery Ratio (PDR), packets dropped, packet delay, average energy consumption and throughput. The paper concludes by highlighting the performance variations of the benchmark protocols taken under consideration.