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Tampa Bay Jan 24 Fishing Report

Hello from Beautiful Anna Maria Island.   This is the reason I live here, it’s January 24 and 70 degrees. The sun is shining and t-shirt and shorts is about the heaviest thing you need to wear.  I have to say this has been and unbelievable winter.  I don’t think we have had one real cold front this season that actually pushed through south of us.  We had a few stall north of us and a few kind of sit on top of us for a day or two, but nothing with driving cold strong north winds.  It has been amazing; the water temps are still creeping into the 70 on the warmer days.

The fishing has been more like spring conditions than winter, and it has been spectacular.   I have been hammering the Snook and Trout along with a few Redfish mixed in.  I can only think of one day this winter we actually had to work for fish, every other day has been very easy with lots of action all day long.

The Snook fishing has been great, yesterday we caught 35.  I had several days this winter where we left the Snook biting after catching 45 or 50.  Most of them have been in the 22 to 28 inch range with a few around 30.  I have been seeing quite a few large 40 inch fish but for some reason the large Snook have not been as active for me. 

Trout fishing has been unbelievable and 2 days ago I ran a half day in the morning and half day in the afternoon.  I cleaned 32 Trout, all between 17 and 20 inches.  We let the larger ones go, some of which were up to 26 inches.  When you’re catching them like that it’s nice to be able to pick and choose and let those big female fish have a chance to spawn. 

Redfish have been around and I’ve been getting a few keepers from 20 to 25 inches mixed in with the Snook but they have pretty much just been a bonus.  We will start seeing more action from them as the water warms. 

Offshore Snapper fishing has been excellent, all the Mangroves up to 20 inches you want.  Flounder fishing is equally as good.   Grouper are biting as well as lots of nice catch and release Gags along with a few keeper Reds.  I have heard a few rumors of some Permit and Kingfish because the water is so warm they almost certainly will be thick earlier this season than usual.  There a few Cobia cruising the wrecks as well.

I would like to give everyone a heads up; Tarpon season is filling quickly for me so if you are planning on coming to Anna Maria Island Tarpon fishing let me know as soon as you get your days picked out.  I hope everyone has enjoyed my report.  Have a great time in the outdoors. 

Capt. Matt Ercoli 941-447-9888

Tampa bay fishing report with live Twitter feed at www.CaptainMatt.com

Tarpon info at www.tarponfish.com