Tampa Bay to Sarasota, FLORIDA

       How's everyone doing? Fishing couldn't be any better! On nearly every fishing trip I run someone asks what is my favorite time of year to fish. I always seem to lean toward Oct. and Nov. The fishing is just so good, and even better, so peaceful. There is just so little boat traffic this time of year and the weather is always so nice and dry with lower humidity. The past month has been nothing short of spectacular. It seems as though you can't help but catch fish. The snook fishing right now is definitely the most consistent and most of the fish are in the 22 to 27 inch range with a few exceeding the 30-inch class. The most incredible thing though is the shear numbers that we are catching. Average days are 25 to 35 snook with some of the best breaking 60 and 70 snook per day, and that doesn't include all the other fish that we are catching while fishing my favorite snook holes. The redfish are also mixed in with snook, we are probably averaging between 6 and 15 a day while fishing for snook. About half of them are keeper size. It seems that most of the reds are either short or just under the max keeper size, which makes for some great eaters. It's nice to see all the little reds around now, I think our stocking program maybe starting to kick in. Tampa bay starts a stocking program where they are putting a million redfish per year in the bay, and now I am hearing rumors of 4 million per year may be in the plan. How lucky we fisherman around here are, we probably already have the best public fishing in the US, and it is only getting better for the most part. As for other fish on the flats, we are catching lots of trout, big jacks over 15 pounds, (hang on) and some nice eating size cobia, no monsters, but some good eating size 20 pounders. If the fabulous flats-fishing isn't enough, hang on to you fishing pole because the offshore fishing is equally as good. A little less consistent but the good days are unbelievable. One of the nice things, it's all happening so close, within 3 miles. That leaves us plenty of time to fish offshore and on the flats in the same day to mix it up. It leaves me with almost too many back-up plans as well. So what are we catching out there right now? Try this on for size, imagine sitting on a huge pod of bait watching 30 and 40 pound kingfish free jump behind the boat while doing battle with a 100 plus pound tarpon or a 75 pound spinning back tip shark. Better yet, a giant and my favorite, smoker kingfish. There are also loads of Spanish mackerel mixed in which almost become a problem when schools of 10 to 40 pound kingfish are crashing up our cum line. We are catching all these speices in the same place and sometimes at the same exact moment. It's times like these that make even the most time tested fishing guide excited. I love it this time of year, why can't it always be this good? I said to one of my associates the other day.

Well if you would like to get out there and do some fishing, November should be awesome and I do still have some availability. If you are heading out on your own have fun and keep those lines tight. Oh yes, remember that Christmas is coming, so if you are thinking about a gift certificate for someone let me know soon. Have a good one!

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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