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Tampa Bay - Saltwater
Capt. Matt Ercoli
October 19, 2006
Tampa Bay - Saltwater Fishing Report
Hello fellow sportsmen and sportswomen, how’s fall treating yall? It is absolutely beautiful out here on Anna Maria. I know I have said it many times, but truly as far as I’m concerned, there is no better time to be fishing in these parts or just lounging around on the Island. It’s near perfect weather, in the mid 70’s with low humidity and us islanders have it all to ourselves this time of the year. At least it feels like that when you compare it to the rest of the year. It’s the weather, solitude and good fishing that make this my favorite time to be on the water. I spent many days this week out on Tampa bay fishing and feel as if we where one of the only ones out there, except for a few other local guides that for the most part all respect each others water. It’s funny, and almost seems as if all the other guides are in better sprits as well this time of year, It make sense though, no racing to fishing holes, no jet skis, just plenty of room for everyone.
Well let’s get down to fishing. The flats fishing has been quite well this past week and picking up even more from the week before. Lots of snook, and I mean lots. I had a few days where it was just plain ridiculous. We reeled them in all day almost as fast as we could reel them in and only move the boat a few hundred yards. I bet we caught 65 snook before one o’clock in the afternoon and that didn’t include some nice slot size redfish, trout, and jacks. Last week was just full of memorable experiences. The other day we smoked the redfish and snook on the fly I had only one guy that day. After he caught all he wanted on live bait we switched over to the fly and they gobbled his little flies up almost as fast. Most of the snook are in the smaller 22 to 26 inch class, although we have been catching a few keepers. The larger ones will get better as the water cools coming into November. If you like lots of action, now is the time light tackle or fly tackle shines.
Redfishing has also been quite good, the larger ones are roaming schools keeping to themselves. Most of those fish are in the 26 to 34 inch class. The smaller ones are on the flats and mixed in with the snook and many other fish. Most of these guys are running in the 17 to 25 inch class. It’s great when you are on these smaller guys because you never know what might me next. It might be a redfish or might be something else. Plus we have been getting some keepers out of the schools of smaller reds along with very fast action.
Trout are also looking good and there have been some areas I am fishing on the lower tides that have been holding some very nice trout. Of course you have to weed though some small ones, but a good percentage of them are nice eating size around 16 to 22 inches.
Well that sums up the flats fishing for me. Offshore fishing is close to really heating up, a few more days of some good cool weather and the kings should show up thick. It’s probably a couple weeks away for them. It will be good when the temp goes down, kings in the 5 to 40 pound class, little tunny in the 8 to 16 pound class, Spanish mackerel, eating size grouper and snapper and who know what else all in one chum slick behind my boat. As for now the flats are where its at but great days offshore will be equivalent soon, at that point its just deciding which direction to take, stay on the flats for some explosive actions or head offshore for much of the same, though the fish are larger and meaner. Sometime we do both on my full day outings, either way you bet on a good time on the water at this time of year. I hope you enjoyed my report. Please feel free to call or drop me a line anytime if you are looking to get out fishing or need some info. Until next time good luck fishing.
Capt. Matt
www.captainmatt.com
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