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Tampa Bay - Saltwater
Capt. Matt Ercoli
July 4, 2006
Tampa Bay - Saltwater Fishing Report
Hi everyone, it’s time for my 4th of July fishing report, direct from the 90 degree tarpon infested waters of Anna Maria island. Tarpon season so far has been a great year for me and very consistent. Most everyday we have been able to hook up 3 or 4 tarpon. This past week I had one of my best tarpon days so far. We trolled over glass-calm bay waters, and for at least half a mile we had all the tarpon we could cast to, school after school and I bet there was more than three hundred fish in one of the schools. Although I have seen much larger schools this season we were able to hook up a dozen or more fish that day. The smallest may have been 75 pounds and the largest close to 150. I have to admit I really love tarpon fishing and it’s my favorite thing to do. There is just nothing like putting one of my customers on their first tarpon. Whether it’s their first fish of the day, or their first tarpon ever, the experience is always the same for me. I just love the excitement of setting up on a large school perfectly, then watch the bait as the pod of tarpon slowly make their way toward it, and of course the hell that breaks loose after the hook up. It can really be an adrenaline fix. There have been lots of tarpon this year and they are distributed everywhere equally as well. Mostly it has been the favorable weather we are having for fishing them. Yesterday, even amongst all the holiday weekend traffic, we manage 6 hook ups and had our own large school of tarpon all to ourselves all day long. The largest, a mean 150 pounder, whipped 3 full grown men before he was lost at the side of the boat. It’s been very good and it looks like July will be equally strong, I’m looking forward to it.
Although most of the fishing I do this time of year is for tarpon I’ve done a few flats charters for those who don’t wish to battle a silver king. Snook have been very good and I’ve had some great days in the shallow clear water on them. Even on slow days 20 snook are quite easy and 40 to 50 per day have been the norm. Redfishing is really starting to pick up, especially for the larger ones. There are some really nice schools of 30 to 35 inchers out there with plenty of eating size fish mixed in. I would have to say the flats fishing is as hot as the weather, which is standard for July in Florida. I’ve been seeing a few permit around and plenty of sharks. One of my buddies, though I rarely target them, say the Spanish mackerel are biting very well.
Drink plenty of fluids and catch a little shade every once in a while, July is a great time to be on the water. Happy 4th to everyone and remember to be safe out on the water.
Capt. Matt Ercoli
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