Tampa Bay to Sarasota, FLORIDA

      Hello fellow fisherman, sorry again for the delayed fishing report. I'm in the middle of prime tarpon season and it's hard to find time to keep up with everything. It's definitely my most physically demanding time of the year. Early morning starts, lots of extra cast netting for just the right kind of bait, long hours in the tuna tower swaying back a forth combined with the hot summer sun make for one tired fishing captain at the end of the each day. I'm not complaining but that is the reason why it has taken me this long to keep everyone updated. We have had one heck of a tarpon season up until last week. Even with all the holiday boat traffic I can't think of a day that we didn't jump at least a couple of tarpon. Some of our better days we put a dozen fish in the air, most of which ran in the 80 to 130 pound class. The largest tarpon we had on would go 150 plus pounds. It's not over yet though, we are still catching tarpon even though the holiday did come with a lull in the tarpon fishing. We should still have some good days left before the end of July. As for large fish, we are still catching goliath grouper to 400 pounds, some nice black tip sharks and a few large nurse sharks. That pretty much sums up the sea monsters.

As for other fish I have been catching some nice snook, not the numbers we are use to seeing earlier in the year but some of them are very nice size snook. As a matter of fact we lost a real monster today. We where sitting on a pod of snook this morning with all the fish running between 36 and 45 inches, and lots of them. We only managed to hook one of them but we didn't have to wait long, he hit on the very first cast of the day. Sadly after a few runs he managed to shake the hook free. We have boated a few over the last couple of week up to 38 inches and several over 40.

I have started to catch a few reds, as tarpon fishing winds down I will start hunting for them more. Remember August is right around the corner and that is one of our most dependable redfish months with many of the schools being made up of fish in the 30 to 35 inch class.

I am catching a lot of little tunny in the 10 to 15 pound class whenever we head offshore, as well a few nice cobia up to 30 pounds. There are a few permit around here again and I will start to target them more as tarpon slows.

Well, that pretty much sumes up the fishing report. If you are interested in fishing I still have a few days left in July and August, just give me a call. If you are heading out on your own good luck fishing and leave a few for me.

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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