Tampa Bay Mar 16 Fishing Report
Spring fishing has been very good off the mangrove studded shore lines of Anna Maria. March is typically one of our very best months for flats fishing and so far it has lived up to expectations. The Snook, Redfish and Trout fishing has been explosive.
Snook fishing has been the best of all. I can honestly say I am even surprised with the number of large Snook we are catching. It has been years since I have boated this many trophy Snook. This still doesn't mean I agree with the state to open the season, I think it was very premature. Believe me when I say this, I forgot more about Snook, their abundance and ability to deal with fishing pressure than the state officials making the decisions will ever know. In my career my boat has caught and released over an estimated 45,000 thousand of them on hook and line. Still, despite how I feel about the open season, I must say that Snook fishing has been very good. We have been averaging 30 to 50 per day and we have been landing trophy size, or what we consider trophy size in this day and age, fish on the large majority of charters. On my best day in the last few weeks I would say we caught over 60 trophy size Snook. As for large fish I had 9 fish over the slot in one morning, one 35 inch, two 34s, two 30s and four 29 to 28 inchers along with a pile of smaller fish. I also had one day that we had two 38 inchers on back to back cast and lost another one about the same size; also while landing a couple other smaller 32 to 33 inchers in the same spot. I had one monster up to the boat that was well over 40 inches a few days ago. I thought he was beat but then he made one last push and got into the mangroves. I jumped out of the boat and went in after him but he still managed to get away. He made the 34 incher we landed on the very next cast feel small. Like they say "they don't get big by being stupid". The Snook fishing is excellent right now.
Red fishing has also been very good. On most days I've been getting plenty of keepers mixed in with Snook. Most of the Reds mixed in with the Snook have been in the 22 to 26 inch class. On the higher tide days I have been hammering the larger bull Reds. When I get them chummed up it's been as fast as you can hook them up in the 25 to 33 inch class. The nice thing is there are a few monster Snook mixed in with them.
Trout fishing has also been very good; I haven't been targeting them much but have been getting plenty for the ice box mixed in with the Snook and Redfish. Most have been ranging from 16 to 25 inches. The Trout fishing is very strong and the species seems to be doing very well.
I haven't been offshore lately because the inshore has been too good. I will start getting out there soon now that the water is warming. There have been reports of a few Kings out there so that marks the beginning of the offshore explosion. I will keep you updated on the offshore fishing as it unfolds.
Well I hope you have enjoyed my report. Remember peak TARPON starts May 1st and runs till about the 3rd week of July. I have a few dates open but it is filling very quickly, if you are thinking about doing battle with a Silver King let me know soon.
Until next time, good luck fishing.
Capt. Matt Ercoli
941-447-9888
www.CaptainMatt.com
