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

Hello everyone, I hope you are all enjoying your summer. Gees I can’t believe it’s already time to gear up for the 4^th of July, seems like memorial day was last week. I guess that’s how time flies when you are working hard. I have been at it every day as usual like every June chasing the endless schools of tarpon all day and every day. So far it was a good tarpon season for me. I think since May 1^st we haven’t had a day where we haven’t hook a full size silver king except for maybe a day or two, we call quits early due to weather. I mean actually landing the fish where I put my hands on the fish for a picture is over 90 percent. Our actual average hookup per day has been a little down though do to the weather, 4 to 7 fish has been more the average with the really good days 10 to 12 hookups. Over all I am happy with how tarpon season has been so far, we are landing lots of good size fish. For some reason the average fish this year has been more in the 100 to 140 pound class, not very many of those smaller 75 to 90 pounders. We have also had a lot of fish 150 pounds or better and some fish in the 200 pound class landed, with several hooked, battled and lost. I look forward to the next few weeks and expect for the run to last till about the third week of July, maybe all the way to the end. I still have a few tarpon days available if anyone’s interested.

As for the rest of the different species, flats fishing has been very good. I ran a few snook and redfish charters this past week and killed them. Lots of red fish in the 22 to 27 inch class with the largest 33 inches. The snook have been even better. One day we literally left them biting after two hours of as fast as you could cast the bait into the water. The largest last week was also 33 inches; we had several nice fish over 30 inches.

The snapper fishing has also been great in the bay, lots of 15 to 20 inchers. Lots of mackerel and little tunny around. Plenty of sharks, I had a 14 ft hammerhead smack into the side of my boat two weeks ago while trying to land a tarpon. There is some cobia on the reefs a few tripletails on the crab pots. I have heard the offshore boys are doing well way out on the red snapper, grouper and dolphin. I have even been catching a few permits while tarpon fishing up to 15 pounds and have been seeing some over 30.

Well guys, that’s my report, fishing is good just about everywhere right now so get out and take advantage of it. I know it’s been hot, believe me I know, but they are calling for a little cooling trend and even in the heat it’s not that bad if you start early and end early. Remember if you are heading out there on your own or coming out aboard my boat brings plenty of water. I hope you have enjoyed my report. Good luck fishing.

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.