Tampa Bay to Sarasota, FLORIDA

I know it’s been a little while since the last one, but I have just been so busy fishing it’s hard for me to find the time to do a report at this time of the year.  We are in the middle of tarpon season and it really turned out to be a good one.  Even though the water is over 5 degrees colder than it should be and the wind has been continuous for the past month or so.  My tarpon charters have been very successful.  As I do every year we put down the 10 pound test tackle and switch to 40 pound tarpon tackle and haven’t looked back since.  Tarpon have been extremely consistent this past month.  We haven’t had a day we haven’t been on good fish and had them eat our baits.  Our average has probably been around 10 fish per day sucking down our baits, probably hooking half of them and landing a fish almost every day.  One of our best days we had as many as 10 plus hookups.  We have also had a lot of larger tarpon landed so far this season.  One day this past week I had a father and son team up for a pair of solid 200 pound tarpon landed in one day. That’s quite a feat for one day of fishing.  The tarpon have also been eating flies quite well too, although most of my tarpon charters these days are live bait we have been hooking up on the fly quite well so far this season.  Really I have to say as a whole even though the water is clearer this year than the last few years past the tarpon have been eating really well.  Nice fresh bait properly presented into an undisturbed school of tarpon has been producing a bite in my boat nearly every time.  I really am looking forward to the next couple of months of tarpon fishing, not only because it’s my favorite thing to do, but also because so far this season has been really good and I think as the summer heat begins to lay our winds down it can only get better from here on.  I look forward to sharing the tarpon videos with everyone which I’ve been taking everyday.  I will have them posted on my site, but probably not until August, when my tarpon season has ended and I have a little more time.  Well that’s the majority of my fishing news.  I have also been doing a little fishing for snook, redfish, trout and Spanish mackerel.   The action is fast on all of them although the snook don’t seemed to be as good as they where a month ago.  I also spent a little time shark fishing this past month, they too are really heated up.  We landed some real nice hi flying, 100lb black tips and lost some big bulls and even had one 300 to 400 pound tiger shark.   I guess I can’t count the 12ft plus hammer heads that I have lost a few tarpon to this past week.   Well I hope you have enjoyed my report and if you would like to get out and catch a tarpon I have 2 or 3 days left for June and a few for July.

 Until next time, good luck fishing.   Oh yes if you are heading out for tarpon on your own remember don’t run your outboard up to the fish because they will probably spook and even if they don’t you’ll probably give them lock jaw.  Just be patient and let the fish come to you.

Capt. Matt   1-800-521-2872

www.captainmatt.com

Matt, both Mike and I were once again blown away with the fish you got us into! In the five or six years I have been coming up to fish with you we have never had a bad day! The offshore fishing this year for the kingfish was incredible and the day on snook was just about the best day fishing I have ever had (I won't even guess at how many we had on)! You can plan on us being back next year, and for that matter, every year! I have had the good luck to fish all over the world, and your area is at the top of my list for great saltwater fishing! Thanks and tight lines until next time.
Sincerely, Steve Brugger

  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

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