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

It's that time of year guys, which direction do you go. Inshore, offshore, snook, redfish and cobia on the flats or kingfish, little tunny and grouper offshore. It's all happing now and the action is fast which ever direction you pick. It's really been nice this past month with 75 degree average air temp, no rain and little wind making the water ultra clear. I think the water is clearer or at least as clear as I have ever seen in my career as a fishing guide. It makes for great sight fishing and is very exciting when you can see everything that's going on under the water.

Well now onto what's biting and where. The backwater for snook couldn't be any better. This past week we averaged 60 to 70 snook a day. Most where smaller 22 to 25 inches, but a few keepers in the 27 to 30 inch class as well. We have also been getting some real nice ones up to 38inches. It just really depends on the customer, we can fish for numbers and catch smaller ones or catch less but larger ones. Either way the snook fishing could not be any better. This week some of my fly fishing charters broke 35 snook in a day. That's darn good on a fly rod anywhere in the world, and a few of them were real nice fish as well. As for other fish on the flats, I have been seeing quite a few redfish on the flats and catching some nice keepers as well. Actually just about all of them are keepers in the 22 to 26 inch class and a few larger. The reds have been a little difficult though, I think because of the clear water and the abundance of crabs. Although they have been picking up as the water warms. The cobia have also been showing up this past week, most of them are nice fish in the 25 to 40 pound range, although you are lucky to get one or two a day they make a great bonus to everything else we are catching.

Offshore action was really starting to heat up this week. Most are the 8 to 15 pound range, but 20 pounders are not uncommon and we did have a 30 plus last week. The little tunny have also been mixed in on the reefs, most in the 10 to 12 pound class with a few larger, and like I always say, pound for pound the hardest fighting fish that ever swam in these parts. We have also been getting a few nice gags mixed in and if you want to catch Moby Dick all we have to do is drop down a whole kingfish or little tunny and hang on, the goliath grouper are averaging 200 to 400 pounds and they get even bigger. On a few of the reefs they are so thick they are a nuisance in some peoples eyes, but you better be ready to do battle, it's not easy hanging on to a 200 pound tuna stick with a 400 pound monster on the other end.

Can't forget tarpon season, because it's right around the corner. Most of our tarpon range on the 75 to 130 pound class with the largest ones topping 200 pounds. May through July is the very best months for them. So if you would like to do battle this summer let me know soon because I'm filling quickly.

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.