Captain Matt Ercoli has fished these waters his whole life, and it is the only job he has ever had. Light tackle, fly or live bait, on the flats in the morning and offshore in the afternoon, the trip is built around what you want to catch.
Out of Holmes Beach, fishing Anna Maria Island, Tampa Bay and Sarasota.
“When I leave the dock I know where the fish are going to be within a few feet, depending on the water temperature, the wind and the tides.”
That is what 4,000-plus days on the water buys you. Matt started right out of high school and never did anything else, and a lot of his clients have fished with him for fifteen years and still come back two or three times a season.
He has led anglers to five world records and won the 1999 Saltwater National Championship, but the part he talks about most is the hard days, when the wind is up and the bait is tough to find and he still puts you on fish.
A 24-foot custom Sheaffer built to run shallow and deep on the same day. Tap a marker to see what makes it fish.
A full tuna tower puts Matt’s eyes about 13 feet off the water for spotting tarpon and redfish, with shade and ten rod holders up top.
A Formula One porta-bracket lets the boat run in less than 12 inches of water, so no flat is off limits.
A 50-gallon-plus livewell with raw seawater pumping through it keeps a thousand pilchards alive and lively all day for chumming and bait.
Eight and a half feet of beam and a large bow casting platform give fly and light-tackle anglers room to work.
At 6,800 pounds and fully foam-injected, the hull is solid, dry and completely unsinkable. Twin trolling motors and six batteries chase fish all day on quiet power.
From May through July there are tarpon by the thousands on the beaches, in the passes and in the bay. Peak dates book up early.
Reserve tarpon dates
Home water. Matt’s dock is on Holmes Beach, which many anglers now call the tarpon capital of the world. In peak season there are tarpon by the thousands on the beaches, in the passes and in the bay — if you can’t find one to cast to in five minutes, you must be blind.
Florida’s largest estuary, fed by clear Gulf water and a string of rivers, with undeveloped shorelines along the south end that hold huge numbers of fish. There is more bait here than anywhere in the state, which is why a three- or four-angler day of 50-plus game fish is no big deal.
A short run south down the Intracoastal from the dock. Sarasota Bay is smaller and stays fishable on most any wind under 20 knots, and while it holds fewer snook than Tampa Bay, the fish average larger. Many days Matt runs Tampa Bay for numbers and finishes in Sarasota for size.
“I have been fishing with Matt Ercoli for about 15 years. I think he is the best tarpon guide in Florida.”
“What a day. We caught so many massive kingfish, grouper and snapper. The boat was solid, dry, stable and versatile.”
“You will not find a better or more personable guide. Capt. Matt gives the extra effort on every trip.”
A $100 deposit per day holds your trip. Call or send a note and Matt will get back to you within 24 hours.
