Tampa Bay to Sarasota, FLORIDA

       Tarpon, Tarpon, and more Tarpon. In two words I can sum up our fishing news around here, tarpon are thick and biting. The tarpon where a little late due to a late spring, but once they made their showing they made it with full force. I have seen as many tarpon in the past couple of weeks as I have ever seen. Because of the number of fish and the very cooperative weather, except for a couple of windy days, the chance to land the silver king has been as good as it gets. On some of our best days we have managed as many as over a dozen hook ups. On the very toughest days we are at least able to do battle with two or three silver kings which is pretty good considering the small ones are running 65 pounds and averaging 100. We have even hooked up a few approaching the 200 pound mark. I must say even though this is the most demanding time of year for me as a fishing guide it is definitely my favorite and most exciting. My favorite part of the day is the first tarpon of the day. I love the excitement that fills the boat as the first pod of tarpon approach the boat and then casting into them, anticipating the bite. Then all of a sudden all hell breaks loose a the first fish of the day hits the bait and explodes into the air landing back in the water as if we are under attack and a shell just landed next to us. It's an amazing battle, high flying leaps, flips, and head shakes you can hear from a hundred yards away. That's why they have been dubbed the silver king. Tarpon are not the only spices on the list that's hungry right now. Although most our efforts have been tarpon I have also had some great days offshore. The tuna, mackerel, permit and snapper, as well as a few keeper gag grouper. If tarpon are not big enough for you the goliath grouper are on the bite. No kidding, the days I have spent fishing them has been as fast the bait gets to the bottom. Most of the fish are in the 200 to 500 pound class and we fish them on 200 pound tuna tackle. You had better been eating your wheaties if you plan on landing one of these big boys, it's all you can do just to hold onto the rod and many times the battle goes for an hour or longer.

Flats fishing is also quite good, especially the larger snook. Since tarpon have showed, snook have gotten a lot less pressure, this in turn makes the larger ones feel less wary and feed better. Yesterday we stopped in the middle of tarpon fishing to cast to a few snook and ended up in a feeding flurry I found hard to leave. I don't know how many snook we caught in the hour and a half but the two fishermen kept the double hooked up going for quite a while, the largest was 33 inches. The redfish and trout bite is pretty good as well and as the water warms the red fishing should become better.

Last but not least is the cobia. I have actually seen quite a few while in my tower looking for tarpon and some real monsters up to 50 or 60 pounds. Sunday we caught a 35 pounder out of a school of tarpon.

Well, Hope you have enjoyed my report. I still have some prime tarpon days left for July and a couple for June. So let me know if it sound like fun. Good luck fishing. Capt Matt

  Matt, Hope all is well and the bite is still on! Just wanted to thank you again for a great time on the water. We had a blast! Also, wanted to see if you'd mind forwarding on the pic's your father took at your dock (FYI: trip was on May 2nd, caught several large kingfish). Anyway, Caroline, her father (especially), and I are all anxious to see if we made this month's fishing report. We'll keep checking, but we realize that your much busier fishing than advertising this time of year. Take care and we're hoping to plan another trip soon. I've already given your info to a friend that'll be in the Tampa area next month.

Cody cody@nutterinc.com

WOW!!! What a trip I had with Captain Matt!!! I went fishing with Captain Matt to catch a tarpon. Not only did I catch a tarpon but a wide variety of fish from grouper to snook. Captain Matt is very experienced at what he does and when I go back to sunny Florida I will fish with him again!!!! Captain Matt, Thanks for filling a dream with the tarpon I caught!!!

Sincerely, Eric

Captain Matt,

Just a word of thanks on behalf of my brother, father, nephew and of course myself. This past week we had a cold front come in and it dropped the water temp down into the low 60's but you once again were able to keep us on fish all day. We boated almost 20 Snook with probably that many more cut off. Several nice keepers included! This was our second trip with you and I assure you it won't be our last. If you would like to use me for a reference I would be glad to talk to anyone. Your knowledge of the area and where the fish are at is superb, and I wouldn't hesitate to recommend your services. I look forward to fishing with you next month, Good fishing and tight lines.

Thanks again, Chris Brownlow, 863-412-0786

Capt. Matt:

      Just wanted to thank you for the WORLD CLASS fishing trip you guided my son Justin and I to on April 30, 2002! I have fished all over America including guiding and tournament fishing at senior levels and have never found a more professional guide. Your equipment, boat, bait, and knowledge are all SUPERIOR. After many "flats" trips in the Tampa Bay Area with other guides you are now my permanent yearly choice!

     This was the 1st time I was able to bring my son along and contacted you in advance with one request, "keep my son hooked up and don't worry about size". I cannot describe the trill of watching Justin land 76 Snook. And we had size to go with the numbers. And as you described in your 5/6 fishing report we only fished one rod at a time. As soon as we cast the 2nd rod( usually before) we were hooked up on the 1st rod and I just reeled in the 2nd rod to watch Justin have the time of his life. I do want to differ a bit from your report stating we could have caught 100 fish. I honestly believe if we would have fished both rods hard we would have caught 200.

     I am very grateful for your efforts. I have personally guided for bass, crappie and stripers and know what it takes to keep equipment in first class shape. I was especially impressed with the quality of your bait(Greenbacks) and the amount you had to chum and fish with. I am already looking forward to fishing with you next year and please feel free to post this if you wish and if any one needs a reference please do not hesitate to have them contact me.

Bill Manning, William.Manning@att.net

Capt. Matt,

I finally got around to scanning in the pictures of my daughter (Danielle) with her snook. Martha, Danielle and I really enjoyed our fishing trip that afternoon. It was easily the best fishing trip Danielle has ever been on and the largest fish she has ever caught. Thanks. I hope we get to come back and do it again some day.

Happy Fishing, David Dodson

      My Son told me to click on to your web site to get your latest fishing report. Glad to see that you referenced our fishing trip we chartered with you. I was the angler who lost the "BIG" one and then boated the 37 inch snook. Alan, my son was the one that battled the cobia. It was the first time I ever angled for snook or chased cobia on the flats. Have always been an off shore fisherman. It was a great experience, exciting and a lot of fun. You are a great captain and fisherman, definitely know where the fish are and techniques on how to catch them. My Son, Alan, and myself will definitely be back to fish with you. I told him to send you the pictures, hope that he did. Thanks again for the thrill!

Tom Radwanski - Jacksonville, Florida

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