Tampa Bay's snook, redfish, trout and grouper action is red hot!
Capt. Matt Ercoli
April 10, 2008
Tampa Bay - Saltwater Fishing Report
It's the beginning of April, and as every April I can remember, the fishing really couldn't be any better than it is right now. To say the fishing is hot is an understatement. I have had some days this week where we lost count after 80 snook and redfish before noon, no joke, it really has been that good. I haven't been offshore myself because inshore fishing has been so ridiculously good, but from what I hear, offshore is equally as good too. I'll do some offshore next week just to mix it up a bit.
So here's how it breaks down. Snook action is fast as it gets, all sizes. You can reel in 22 to 26 inchers as fast as you can. As always the larger ones are tougher, but they are biting really well too. We had some nice snook to 36 inches last week. Though most of my charters have been live bait my fly fishermen are doing really good on snook as well. We had several nice snook on the fly over the last couple of weeks in the 26 to almost 30 inch class, the coolest thing about it is you see every fish actually swim up and hit the fly. Whether snook or reds, the water we have been fishing is gin clear so you see it all happen.
This week the redfish have been just as fast, or even faster, than snook on their better days. A few days I had them so wound up on chum the cork would hit the water and never come back up. Most of the reds are slot fish around 20 to 26 inches with a few over size fish in the 30 inch class mixed in.
Trout fishing is equally as good, lots of nice keepers in the 18 to 20 inch class with the larger ones approaching 25 inches. Everyone is excited about the trout, it seems they are finally really making a strong come back after the red tide 3 years ago killed a lot of trout.
As for offshore fishing, the kings are prime with lots of numbers and size up to 40 pounds. The tunny and Spanish mackerel are mixed in as well with even a few sailfish being caught. A commercial boat called me last night with some numbers where they spotted several sails yesterday, so I will be giving them a try as well. As for bottom fish, grouper are thick on the reefs and being caught by king fishermen. That's what I love about heading offshore this time of year. You can sit in one spot, sometimes all day, and catch all the kingfish, tunny, mackerel, grouper, snapper and maybe a sail and never move the boat. If you want to see monsters there are 400 pound goliath groupers as well.
Well I hope you have enjoyed my report. If you're a fisherman I can't think of a better time to be out there, so load up the boat and head to the closest pier, or give me a call now to set up a time to do it.
Good luck fishing, see you on the water,
Capt. Matt Ercoli
1-800-521-2872
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