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

Hello, how is everyone doing these days? Great I hope, and staying cool. It’s been pretty hot out there the past few weeks and that’s one of the reasons I prefer to stay in the open water tarpon fishing. It’s been good this week with tarpon staying strong and keeping us busy all day long each day. We had several days this past week where we landed as many as 3 or 4 tarpon each day, even on the tougher days we still manage at least one landing and several good battles. Tarpon for me is really what makes up the bulk of my fishing until the end of July.

Snook fishing was also good on the couple of days I spent chasing them. I managed lots of numbers, around 30 per day, with some nice large ones mixed in. There are some 40 inchers biting out there now and I would say July is a very good month for a trophy snook. There are also some fairly consistent reds mixed in from 22 to the 30 plus inch range, making for some good eating. The trout bite is consistent as well if you want a lot of action and some good eating fish. The mangrove snapper have flooded the bay as well so it’s possible to do some good back water fishing part of the day and then hit some mangrove snapper part of the day. The bay is also still swamped with mackerel and little tunny, it’s been that way for the last two months, like I’ve never seen them before. I think it’s because there are so many massive schools of bait, primarily little thread fin and Spanish sardine. From what I hear offshore fishing has been decent but not great. Weird thing is I have been catching lots of nice grouper while tarpon fishing in the bay. usually they are way offshore in this heat. I’ve heard a few guys heading offshore say they are getting a few large permit and lots of small Dorado, but they haven’t been bragging about the bottom fishing.

So I hope you have enjoyed my report. I still have just a few days open for tarpon so if anyone wants to do battle with a silver king before the peek season ends let me know and we’ll get them. Until next time, have a good one.

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.