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Tampa Bay - Saltwater
Capt. Matt Ercoli
February 17, 2004
Tampa Bay - Saltwater Fishing Report
I can smell it in the air, spring is right around the corner. If you’re a fisherman I don’t even have to tell you it can be the most explosive fishing of the whole year. Winter fishing conditions are almost over. Shortly the fishing will travel out onto the shallow flats where they will stay until next winter. I must say though I’m sorry to see this winter go, it has been spectacular fishing for me. This was hands down the best winter fishing I have experienced in my career as a fishing guide. Lots of nice snook, more reds than ever, more black drum as well, the fattest sheepshead I have ever caught. The only thing I can say that was not the best is perhaps trout fishing.
The past week has been no exception, even more defining of the kind of winter we have been having. We have actually had quite a few keeper snook up to 31 inches, with some larger ones lost.
Redfish have been even better with over 15 a day in the 23 to 26 inch class on some of the better days, as well as a lot of shorts mixed in.
The black drum fishing has never been this consistent as it has been here lately. I have to say that black drum have been keeping up with the redfish for me. Although a few of them are toppling 12 pounds, most drum are running around 6 to 8 pounds.
Equally surprising has been sheepshead. I have had a few days where the average sheepshead was 5 pounds, with some up to maybe 7 or 8 pounds.
As for the trout, I have been getting a few keepers, but because they are not mixed in with the other fish I have not been targeting them. All the other species have been mixed together. One cast you might catch a snook, redfish, or black drum.
Well that’s what I have going on now but we are literally just days away from the explosion of snook onto the shallow flats. It’s one of my favorite times of the year to fish. As the sun start to warm the shallow flats above 70 degree the snook sprawl out onto the flats with the urge to feed. I would have to say it is their most vulnerable time of the year. All winter they have had little to no fishing pressure, and suddenly they are out in the shallow clear flats easy to locate, hungry and very willing to eat. An average day on snook at this time for my charters is around 25 to 35 snook. Good days are 40 to 60 and the best we might even approach a hundred in a day. It is, as far as numbers go, the fastest that snook fishing gets.
This is also some of the best shallow water, sight, fly-fishing all year. The snook are more willing to eat a fly at this time than they will all year. We also have a few days early in Feb. and through March when we catch over 30 snook in a day on the fly. The coolest thing is that you will see nearly every fish grab your fly.
Redfish, trout and cobia will bite good at that time as well, but they always seem to take the back seat to snook fishing.
Well I hope you have enjoyed my report. I still have a few days for Feb and March available if you are interested. Also if you are planning a tarpon charter for May, June or July let me know soon, I am filling up quickly. Have fun fishing!
Capt. Matt
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