Tampa Bay to Sarasota, FLORIDA

      Sorry for the delay everyone! Today was a very typical June day, we spent the day sight fishing for tarpon. We jumped three, fought two for over an hour each and managed to boat one, well that's tarpon fishing. The first 15 minutes of the highflying leaps and drag screaming runs are the best anyway. We are into the thick of things as far as tarpon is concerned. I would have to say that they are consuming probably 80 % of my time on the water right now. I have been doing some offshore fishing as well as a little snook fishing but its hard to pass up a silver king, especially when the action is as consistent as it has been. All of my charters who have devoted an entire day to the pursuit of tarpon have done battle with at least a few tarpon over 75 pounds. On the better days we have jumped better than 10 and some of the largest have approached the 150 pound mark. I love the thrill of the chase and the anticipation of the bite as you watch a herd of tarpon with over 100 fish approach your bait, the hook-set and then that first leap. Even as a guide who sees it everyday it still gets my adrenalin going.

As for other fish, I always say that if you want to catch a large fish, May, June and July are the best months. Of course tarpon is highest on the list but how can you pass up the Goliath Grouper, or the great sharks that we have. Since my last report we have boated five Goliath grouper in the 300 to 400 pound range. Although that is just a guess, I did measure one of them at 73 inches and almost as big around as it is long, you do the math. One day we spent the whole day fishing for them and hooked them all day long. For every bait we had on we had a fish and I bet there wasn't one under 200 pounds. Doug Hipplers of Plant City was the youngest I have ever had land a goliath grouper. Last Friday the 13-year-old boy boated a fish that was nearly 400 pounds after an hour struggle. I can just imagine the story he had for his buddies when he got home, good thing he had a camera!

Now those are some large fish but I can honestly say they can't hold a candle to the hammerhead we hooked last Thursday with Bill Slappy's of Lakeland. The shark was easily 14 or 15 ft., and his hammer was wide as I can spread my arms. It was the kind of fish that makes your knees tremble as he passes the boat. Although he quickly broke us off it was by far the largest thing I have ever seen hooked and something I will never forget. He showed up out of nowhere liked a ghost in the sea. The giant sea monster circled behind the boat obviously attracted by the fresh fish blood. I quickly hooked up a whole fresh little tunny and tossed it to him as he circled twice and then whammo, game on! He ripped off some drag and then severed the line. As for other fishing, snook fishing has been hot and cold but with fast tides this week we should have some excellent snook. I'm also catching lots of little tunny, some I bet would be over 15 pounds. Pound for pound they are the strongest fish that swims, they are unbelievable on light tackle. We have also been catching a few small permit, mostly 6 to 9 pounds, but a permit is a permit and you take them anyway you can get them.

Well I hope you have enjoyed my report. I have some availability in July if you are interested. The main targets will be tarpon, permit, goliath grouper, sharks, little tunny, and of course snook.

Capt. Matt Ercoli

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

Copyright © 1998-2002 FLY the FLATS, All rights reserved.