Tampa Bay to Sarasota, FLORIDA

       Hello fellow fisherman, how have you been? Fishing and the weather couldn't be better around here. Almost everything is going off around here. Snook are peek on the flats right now. As usual a lot of fish are in the 22 to 25 inch class but we are also doing very well on the keeper size fish. We have been boating many snook in the 28 to 33 inch range the past couple of weeks, with a few in the 38 inch range. We have also lost quite a few larger ones in the 40 inch class. Red fishing is pretty good as well, although I have not been targeting them we have been catching some nice keepers while fishing for snook. It's hard to leave the snook bite right now to target something else when we are averaging 25 to 50 a day and some of my best days we have counted over 75 snook landed.

Offshore things are just starting to heat up to the point where the snook fishing may take second seed. The kings have arrived and should just be getting better over the next couple of weeks. Most of the fish are in the 10 to 25 pound range but fish exceeding 40 pounds are possible. Mixed in with them are tunny in the 10 to 15 pound range as well as Spanish mackerel, keeper grouper, black tip sharks and of coarse the mighty goliath grouper averaging 200 to 400 pounds, with some approaching and maybe exceeding 500. All these offshore species are biting and without even pulling the anchor more than once or twice. Whether you like to light tackle or fly fish it's happening inshore and offshore and the action is fast. So whether you're looking to go out on a charter or take your own boat out you couldn't pick a much better time.

Tarpon fisherman! May is the start of our famous beach migration. Remember May though July is our very peek months and August was equally as strong for my charters last year. Most of the fish are in the 75 to 130 pound class with some approaching and exceeding the 200 pound class. Tarpon fishing is probably the most exciting fish I have to offer my fisherman and probably my personal favorite. If you are looking for tarpon those are the months you want to plan it, May through August. I hope you have enjoyed this report, Good luck and keep your drags screaming.

Capt. Matt

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.

Cody cody@nutterinc.com

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!!!

Sincerely, Eric

Captain Matt,

Just a word of thanks on behalf of my brother, father, nephew and of course myself. This past week we had a cold front come in and it dropped the water temp down into the low 60's but you once again were able to keep us on fish all day. We boated almost 20 Snook with probably that many more cut off. Several nice keepers included! This was our second trip with you and I assure you it won't be our last. If you would like to use me for a reference I would be glad to talk to anyone. Your knowledge of the area and where the fish are at is superb, and I wouldn't hesitate to recommend your services. I look forward to fishing with you next month, Good fishing and tight lines.

Thanks again, Chris Brownlow, 863-412-0786

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

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