Tampa Bay to Sarasota, FLORIDA

      Wow! Lots have happened since my last fishing report. The period between this and my last fishing report has been the best action since the beginning of our spring fishing. Last week giant kingfish, this week some of the fastest snook fishing you can ever imagine.

As I said, the kingfishing has been hot and not for just schoolies either, each day spent chasing them we have managed too get the drag ripping off of at least one or two giant smokers over 30 pounds. We have been catching lots of fish in the 15 to 20 pound class as well as a few small ones. I would like to congratulate Robert Harper, Joe little, and Ted Becharas for their trophy kings. We landed all 3 of these fish which where in the 35 to 40 pound class and around 50 inches. Gees, how exciting to hear 200 plus yards of line peel of the reel after a smoker kingfish explodes on a live surface bait. Along with kingfish we have also been catching a lot of little tunny, Spanish mackerel and a few permit.

Now back to the snook, the main target for this past week and for good reason. I can sum it up in one word, LOTS, that's how many we have been catching. Most of my snook charters have been fly charters and all of those have been memorable. Ok guys, I'm going to try and remember whose fish belongs two who so bear with me. On a busy afternoon Ken Chang managed to boat 10 snook on the fly, two of which where 27 and 28 inches. Peter Yoon had about 10, also one real beauty, a 31 inch trophy on a fly. Matt Grey had a 20 plus snook day on the fly, the best for the week. One 27 inches and his largest a really healthy fat 31 inch snook for another trophy on the fly. He also managed three trout over 20 inches, the largest 23 and one 20-inch redfish to complete his backcounty slam on the fly, a great job for Matt! It will be a long time before Matt forgets one snook he cast to, a solid 33 to 35 incher. He made a perfect cast, the fish followed all the way to the end of the fly line literally touching the fly with his nose as Matt stripped it in. I thought for sure he was going to hit it. Although he never did Matt himself said the moment was worth the whole trip. Rich Hall fished with me yesterday and he too had a dozen or so snook on the fly, the largest was 26 inches. Now when I say a lot of snook this is what I mean, Bill Manning took his 10 year old son fishing with me last Tuesday and because he was teaching his son how to fish we only had one rod, sometimes two going at once. All in all we counted 76 snook, 5 or 6 which would have been keepers over 26 inches, and one that was 34 inches. Ten year old Justin, with a little help from his father, reeled them in all by himself. Needless to say I think a fisherman has been born. Had we been using three rods, as with most of my bait charters, we surely would have broken 100 snook by three o'clock, it was simply as fast as you could reel them in.

Well it has been a great few weeks and I am hopeful the next few will be equally as interesting. Tarpon season is fixing to crack open and although there are a few fish in the bay it is nothing compared to what we will have when the southern migration hits the beaches. They are starting to trickle in and any day now we should be hammering them. It's hard to beat a 100 plus pound, head shaking, silver king flying though the air. Well guys and gals I hope you have enjoyed my report. I have a few days available over the next couple of months so if you are interested give a call or drop me a line. Remember May June and July are our prime tarpon months, as well as snook, permit little tunny, sharks, giant jewfish and redfish.

Catch you on the water, Capt. Matt

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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