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

We are loving the cool weather and it feels so good I wish it would stay like this all year long. Inshore fishing has been real solid for me this past couple of weeks. Lots of snook, redfish, trout and some real nice flounder for an added bonus. Snook have made up the majority of my catch. Most of the snook are smaller in the 3 to 5 pound class, but I have had a few around 29 to 31 inches, 9 to 10 pounds. The redfish have also been consistent. Getting lots of small ones mixed in with the snook. The keeper reds I have been catching are all in schools of their own kind in the 25 to 29 inch class. The trout are out of season till the first of the year but I have been catching some real nice ones while snook fishing. Trout season is going to be extra good this coming year. We have been catching keeper flounder everyday which is a great bonus for the box. They are one of my favorite fish to eat; it doesn’t get any better than true fresh flounder. Nothing like what you get at the grocery store.

Offshore fishing has been good as well. Lots of king fish still around. Most of the kingfish have been real nice size too. Most of the kings have been over ten pounds and averaging more like 15 to 18 pounds with 20 pound plus fish on every trip offshore. It’s really been a great kingfish season this fall for good size fish. The grouper are also biting good as well. Gags and reds are out 10 miles. Plenty of keepers on good days. As usual you have to weed through lots of shorts which are fun but when you get the big tug you know it’s a keeper that pulls extra hard. A lot of kingfish are in the same spot as the grouper, so while bottom fishing you can put out some flat lines and catch some kings. There is also lots of Spanish mackerel offshore this week so if you are looking for some extra tasty fillets it’s hard to beat fresh mackerel.

Well I hope you have enjoyed my report. Fishing and the weather looks great for our holiday week. Have a great thanksgiving and if you’re heading out fishing on your days off, good luck and have fun.

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.