Tampa Bay April Fishing Report
Hello everyone, Captain Matt here from Anna Maria Island; Just shooting out a quick fishing report as I wait for the rain to clear so I can get out on the water for the rest of the day. March was an incredible month of fishing despite up and down weather conditions. We managed to get out every day and catch lots of fish. Even on the windy cold days we did well. I only remember having one really tuff day where we only caught 10 Snook, a couple Trout and Flounder. The rest of the days we were catching 35 to 50 Snook per day with several days of 60 and even 70 plus Snook. I think I had one day we left them biting after 80 Snook. We also had a lot of nice Snook in the 30 to 38 inch class. Many more than I have had in years, which is a good sign. I have also notice a lot of the schools of large Snook are much larger than they have been in the last 5 years, a very good sign.
Trout fishing has also been good. We have been catching a lot of nice keepers and I honestly think the average size of Trout is a little larger right now. It's typical to catch a lot of large Trout this time of year over 20 inches and we have as usual, but I am talking more about the schooled Trout. Rather than catching a lot of fish that are a half inch short of keepers we are getting a lot that are a half inch to an inch large enough to keep and this is really nice.
Red fishing has been good. Good and we have been getting on some large schools of fish along with plenty of keepers mixed in with the Snook. Now that water temps are on the quick rise the large schools of Reds should get even more aggressive.
Offshore the Kingfish are in full force and there are a lot of large fish out there right now as there generally is when they first get thick. One of my fellow Captains had a 40 pounder a few days ago which is a real nice one on this coast. The Gag Grouper are also on fire with a lot of giant 30 to 34 inchers hitting Kingfish rigs at first light. Red Grouper have also moved in a little closer and have been really aggressive. April is really the most exciting time for offshore fishing. We can catch Kingfish, Grouper, Snapper, Mackerel, Tunny, Sharks, Cobia, Goliath Grouper and sometimes even Permit, all in one spot.
Well I hope you have enjoyed my report. March was awesome, in all my boat landed over 1200 Snook this past month. April should be awesome as well; we will catch a lot of Snook but not as many because I will spend more time offshore this month. Have a great time on the water.
Capt. Matt Ercoli
941-447-9888
www.CaptainMatt.com
www.TarponFish.com
