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Tampa Bay - Saltwater
Capt. Matt Ercoli
April 14, 2006
Tampa Bay - Saltwater Fishing Report
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. It was a big week for us as the Kingfish showed up in full force. It is nothing to catch 20 plus on the early morning bite. 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 I will be preparing my boat with 6 horse power of trolling motors, a must for a quite chase to the silver kings. 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.
Well I hope you have enjoyed my report see you on the water.
Capt. Matt 800-521-2872
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