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

Hello Fellow fisherman and Merry Christmas. As I sat and wrote this report we were only two days away from Christmas. All I can think is it doesn’t feel much like Christmas in these parts except for the fact that some of my family and best friends will be coming from out of town to spend the holidays. Why do I say it doesn’t feel like Christmas? Well it’s over 70 degrees outside and the day before yesterday I took some of my friends out wake boarding without a wet suit. Well it is Florida and it’s not uncommon for us to have this kind of weather this time of year.

Now as for the fishing. Warm water has made for a good snook bite. I actually looked for water temps at about 70 degrees in the afternoon and had some great days on the flats snook fishing. Last week we had some 30 plus snook days, mostly small ones 22 to 25 inches, but some nice size redfish mixed in with them. Most of the reds are in the 22 to 27 inch class and all keepers, with a few short and a few over size in the 30 plus inch class. Red fishing has actually been better for me on the cold fronts in the cooler water on shrimp, so with last week’s warm temperatures we chased reds in the morning with shrimp and then switch to snook on live greenbacks in the afternoon. We have also been catching some nice trout mixed in with the snook with some over 20 inches. The trout are out of season right now but should be good fishing and one more fish for the cooler come January 1^st. The flounder have also been a nice bonus each and every day. I have not been targeting them but still catching them while fishing for other fish and many of them are nicer than we usually catch. A lot of the flounder have been in the 15 to 20 inch class and a tasty bonus. There is good grouper fishing in the bay, lots of action, sometimes as many as 30 plus per day with many smaller ones but plenty of keepers making them a worthwhile target.

The coming weeks should be good for us. There are a lot of redfish in the bay right now so on the cooler days, especially the coldest ones, we should be killing them. If the weather stays warmer I expect more snook on my charters.

I still have a couple of days left over the holidays so if anyone is interested in getting out on short notice just give me a call. Remember now is the time to think about planning your spring and tarpon trips, especially tarpon, May thru July. I am already starting to fill in my calendar and it becomes hard for you to find the day you would like after the first of the year. I would like to thank everyone for a good fishing season and look forward to the coming year.

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.