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

Hello from Anna Maria. Well things are starting to look a lot better around here. The tarpon migration finally showed up after being about two weeks late. This was because of two late unseasonable cold fronts that blasted in, one a month ago and a another one a week later. As always I switch over to tarpon on May first and although the southern migration had not shown up we did very well on the resident tarpon. Resident fish are just as big and just as mean as the tarpon we catch out of the large migratory schools. The only difference is that I don’t find the resident fish quite as exciting. That’s because rather than classic spot and stalk we are sitting and waiting for a hit. This doesn’t provide the exciting anticipation factor of the perfect cast in front of a school of rolling tarpon, knowing any second you are about to get a hit. None the less we have been doing very well on the tarpon which range from 50 to 150 pounds. On better days in the last two weeks we have hooked as many as a dozen, several days better than eight. Even on the slow days two or three. We have yet to have a day that we haven’t hooked a fish, despite less than perfect conditions. It’s all going to change soon though, I have just started to sight fish the large migratory schools and things are going to be a lot more exciting. Massive schools of tarpon have begun to move in from down south and offshore, instantly putting us into peek tarpon time. That’s how it happens every year, it’s like someone turns on the light switch and suddenly they are here. Tarpon is without a doubt my favorite time of year. If I ever retire from being a fulltime fishing guide, I will still have to run charters everyday from the day the migration shows till the day they leave. I just find it so technically challenging and so exciting. Last year we hooked around 500 tarpon, from May through July, during the three month tarpon migration. I would like to up my percentages this year. Every year I tweak my tarpon rig just a little more to make it more efficient at producing as many fish as possible and every year we catch more fish. This year I have a few more tricks up my sleeve. I’m really excited to see how we fair by the end of the season, maybe we can hook 550 or 600 this year.

The light tackle fishing has also been very good lately. The snook, as usual, are very consistent. The red fishing is also picking up after a few weeks lull and trout couldn’t be better. Although I have been spending nearly all my time tarpon fishing, my fellow captains have been reporting great trout catches. This is so good to hear, I think they are finally back the way they used to be.

Offshore there are still some kingfish out there and plenty of grouper. I have been seeing lots of tunny on my tarpon charters and the snapper are starting to thicken up in the bay. All in all the fishing is very good., but as usual for me, this time of year tarpon is what I care about most.

Anyway, I hope you have enjoyed my report. I still have a few tarpon days left this May through July. Expect an average day to produce 5 to 7 hook up, 10 to 15 on the good days and 2 to 4 on the slower. The average size is around 75 to 130 pounds, trophies are 150 and up. Last year we had 5or 6 fish around 200 pounds. Please feel free to call or email anytime.

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.