Tampa Bay to Sarasota, FLORIDA

      Berrrr! It's been cold, we are even feeling it down here in Florida too. I'm sure it's nothing like up north though. I was a little surprised to hear that we are having record low temperatures around here, it's been so sunny in the afternoons and still pretty warm later in the day. Yesterday I was a little cold in the morning but was shedding the heavy jacket by 11o'clock. With a north wind I felt comfortable in my sweat pants and sweat shirt. I like the cold weather, it just feels really refreshing, the air feels clean, and when the sun is beaming down it feels great. Yesterday was some of the coldest water temps I have ever fished in around here, 48 degrees when I left my dock, that's cold water for these parts. I was a little skeptical about fish biting at first but it only seems to really concentrate them. With their metabolism slowed, being cold blooded, many fish bunch up in the small pockets of water that are just a degree warmer than the surrounding area.

Trout fishing is always good this time of year, they tolerate cold water very well, and by the way they are biting I almost think they like it. Most trout I'm catching are in 10 to 12 ft. of water. They are very concentrated, when you're on them you are catching all sizes. We are getting a lot of keeper sizes lately, not any monsters but plenty in the 16 to 20 inch range, perfect for eating. Sheepshead are holding on strong. We are having real fast action on the better days, 3 to 5 pound fish. They make for pretty good sport, very finicky and it takes a skilled angler to get the hook set on them. After missing a half dozen or so most of my fisherman seem to catch on. Blue fish are still biting, most are 20 to 24 inches. They pull quite hard on 10 pound test line, making them a good challenge. We caught a few black drum this past week, no really large ones though. Most are a spitting image of the previous, around 51/2 maybe 6 pounds.

Pompano are starting to thicken up pretty good with more dependable reports coming in from every direction. I'm not sure what this last cold blast has done to them though, I have not tried them in a few days. It may have slowed them for the time being, but I think the bite will continue if it warms up a bit. Pompano tolerate the cold pretty well but when the water goes below 54 they start getting tougher to catch.

Well, that sums up what's going on in my neck of the woods. I still have some availability in Feb. if you are thinking of a fishing trip. If you are thinking of fishing between now and the end of tarpon season I am starting to fill in. Some of the best snook fishing of the year is right around the corner for you snook gurus. The end of Feb. until the beginning of Mar. is some of the best fishing for snook all year long. Last year some of our best days on live bait produced up to 100 snook per day. On the fly some of our better days consisted of 30 plus and almost all of that was sight fishing. We also catch redfish, trout and cobia on the flats at that time. We catch kingfish, little tunny and Spanish mackerel offshore, but they usually gear up more toward the middle or end of March.

Well I hope you have enjoyed my report. Good luck on the water and if heading out on your own remember these words, "Slow and deliberate," that's how you have to fish this time of year to produce fish. You may have to move a bit to find fish but once you do slow it down and remember those fish aren't going to move much to chase a bait down. The good thing is once you find them they are not going to go far and will be there day after day. Have Fun!

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

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