Fishing Report - Tampa Bay to Sarasota, Florida. Saltwater flats and backcountry fishing guide Capt. Matt Ercoli.

It’s the beginning of April, and as every April I can remember, the fishing really couldn’t be any better than it is right now. To say the fishing is hot is an understatement. I have had some days this week where we lost count after 80 snook and redfish before noon, no joke, it really has been that good. I haven’t been offshore myself because inshore fishing has been so ridiculously good, but from what I hear, offshore is equally as good too. I’ll do some offshore next week just to mix it up a bit.

So here’s how it breaks down. Snook action is fast as it gets, all sizes. You can reel in 22 to 26 inchers as fast as you can. As always the larger ones are tougher, but they are biting really well too. We had some nice snook to 36 inches last week. Though most of my charters have been live bait my fly fishermen are doing really good on snook as well. We had several nice snook on the fly over the last couple of weeks in the 26 to almost 30 inch class, the coolest thing about it is you see every fish actually swim up and hit the fly. Whether snook or reds, the water we have been fishing is gin clear so you see it all happen.

This week the redfish have been just as fast, or even faster, than snook on their better days. A few days I had them so wound up on chum the cork would hit the water and never come back up. Most of the reds are slot fish around 20 to 26 inches with a few over size fish in the 30 inch class mixed in.

Trout fishing is equally as good, lots of nice keepers in the 18 to 20 inch class with the larger ones approaching 25 inches. Everyone is excited about the trout, it seems they are finally really making a strong come back after the red tide 3 years ago killed a lot of trout.

As for offshore fishing, the kings are prime with lots of numbers and size up to 40 pounds. The tunny and Spanish mackerel are mixed in as well with even a few sailfish being caught. A commercial boat called me last night with some numbers where they spotted several sails yesterday, so I will be giving them a try as well. As for bottom fish, grouper are thick on the reefs and being caught by king fishermen. That’s what I love about heading offshore this time of year. You can sit in one spot, sometimes all day, and catch all the kingfish, tunny, mackerel, grouper, snapper and maybe a sail and never move the boat. If you want to see monsters there are 400 pound goliath groupers as well.

Well I hope you have enjoyed my report. If you’re a fisherman I can’t think of a better time to be out there, so load up the boat and head to the closest pier, or give me a call now to set up a time to do it.

Matt, I tell you what...On a day when every boat in Tampa was on the beach spooking fish, we were still able to create quite a crowd of enthralled weekend warriors with the leaps of an illusive silver king! This was our second trip with Captain Matt and just as he put us onto some of the best snook holes in the Bay, our hunt was successful in finding our target fish once again. The tarpon were more leader shy than they were at the beginning of the summer but with Matt's pin point accuracy and knowledge, we were still able to get our bites out there! I have been a saltwater fisherman for 19 years and every time I go out with Matt, I am able to learn something new that improves my overall fishing performance, and increases my love for the sport. This was the first acceptable full-size tarpon I have ever landed and just three days following our trip, I landed my second good tarpon, a 70 pounder, over on my coast! Matt, your professionalism and character have shown to be top notch. We will continue to be strictly your clients, just as the many other true saltwater anglers that use your service. Here are pictures of the great fish that we landed and a picture of the one that I caught by the residual good luck that everyone gets when they step foot out on your Sheaffer. Thanks again for the memories, our summer was great and I hope your video of the jumps turned out well!

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.

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!!!

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.