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Tampa Bay - Saltwater
Capt. Matt Ercoli
April 19, 2002
Tampa Bay - Saltwater Fishing Report
Pretty much if it swims in our waters we are catching it right now, tarpon, snook, cobia, permit, redfish, trout, kingfish, little tunny, black tip sharks, Spanish mackerel and I?m sure I have left out a few.
Redfishing has really taken off, I?ve had a few days where we have left them biting after catching 30 or 40 of them in the 23 to 35 inch range. I had a few days where my fisherman literally gave up reeling them in after the mayhem of triple hook ups, sore arms and tangled lines.
The snook fishing has remained strong and we are still catching keeper size fish each and every day, as well as a pile of under size fish.
The tarpon fishing remains fair even though we are not slaying them right now. A dedicated tarpon fisherman still has a good chance of boating a fish. Yesterday Tampa local Patrick Thorton boated his first tarpon. Although the fish was only 50 or 60 pounds he made some spectacular leaps. Good job Patrick! It won?t be long before the tarpon fishing really gets hot as the southern migration begins to show any day now.
Cobia fishing is as hot as it gets. Right now there are plenty of nice fish on the inside as well as offshore. Most of the fish are running between 15 and 25 pounds. We have boated several the past couple of weeks over 25 pounds.
As for offshore fishing, it too is equally as hot as the inshore. Lots of kingfish, little tunny, Spanish mackerel, permit and sharks. For fly fisherman and light tackle fisherman alike it?s action heaven.
I would like to commend fly fisherman Saul Bankaitis of Brothel, Washington for his backcounty slam we pulled off last Sunday morning. That consists of a legal snook, redfish, and trout. His snook measured 29 inches, along with three redfish, the largest being 23 inches, as well as a 17 inch trout to lock up the slam. That?s not an easy accomplishment on the fly for a four hour trip on a busy Sunday morning. I picked up Robert Harper for the afternoon charter afterwards and he and I caught snook and redfish as fast as we could reel them in. Three of the redfish where over 26 inches and all where keeper size. We then ended the day with a nice 35 inch cobia.
Well that is what?s going on right now, tarpon fisherman don?t forget we are right around the corner for southern migration. I still have a few days available and May through July will be the prime time. Give me a call if it sounds interesting.
I hope you have enjoyed my report, good luck fishing!
Capt. Matt
CLIENT E-MAIL
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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