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Tampa Bay - Saltwater
Capt. Matt Ercoli
March 21, 2007
Tampa Bay - Saltwater Fishing Report
Spring is in the air and in the water with water temps creeping into the low 70’s. The shallow water flat’s fishing has exploded this past week. Last week we had a tremendous time fishing Lots of snook, big snook; and lots of redfish, big redfish with some darn nice trout mixed in. We actually had one snook on and up to the boat only a few inches from my hand that would have been my largest ever in my career as a fishing guide. The monster snook was whipped as we pulled him out from underneath a boat and two docks, it was a miracle we got him up to the boat just to have the line snap as the fish wallowed at the side of the boat. My heart sank and it really gave me a sick feeling in my stomach, it was only a few seconds after the line parted that I got a good look at him. My heart instantly started racing and then as quick as the excitement started it was over. I was so close, literally inches from sliding my hand in his jaw and would have had him. So close, those are the days I fish for, I would have liked to have a picture of him but it’s the challenge that I live for. That was a once in lifetime moment for me, could have been a pinnacle in my snook guiding career. There are other ones out there like Moby and some even larger, who knows what tomorrow may bring, next week or next year, it’s what keeps you coming back and its what make my job one of the most exciting in the world.
Now to the report, Red fishing has been very good, we have been averaging 10 to 30 per day, almost all keepers or over sized. They are really a lot of fun because I have been getting them in very shallow clear water and you can see it all happen, classic flats fishing. The snook fishing is even better. We have been getting lots of keeper and over sized fish. One day I bet we had 15 legal and over sized snook, and that doesn't include all the shorts we had later in the day. That’s about as many snook over 27 inches as my charter will ever get in a day. As for just going out and catching a lot of snook I have some spots where 60 and 70 snook in a day will be no problem. Most of them are in the 22 to 26 inch class, but they are great fighters and in shallow clear water great for sight fishing, especially for you guys looking to take them on the fly. Last week I spent my mornings fishing for large snook, middle of the day on reds and finishing up with some more smaller snook on the shallow flats. So I really was not targeting numbers, but we still did have a couple days we broke 50 and 60 between snook and redfish. The trout fishing has been good, almost all the trout I have been getting are nice, in the 17 to 22 inch class. I haven’t been targeting them but there are some real nice ones mixed in with some of the snook I have been fishing.
Well that’s what’s been going on this week, should be very similar in the following weeks. April is right around the corner and flats fishing will be similar to this report; as well offshore for kingfish, tunny, mackerel, and grouper will be equally as good. May marks the begining of the massive tarpon migration; I’m filling my schedule quickly so if tarpon is on your agenda this year let me know soon.
Hope ever one has a great week and until next time.
Capt Matt
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