2021 is here and the fishing outlook is spectacular!
Thank the Lord 2021 is here and the fishing should be great as we enter the first few months of the new year. The next few months will hold some of the best inshore action of the year for snook, redfish, and trout. Tarpon will begin to move into the bay in preparation for the big migration and spawning. Kingfish will move into our region on their spring run and almost everything that we catch throughout the year could be an option on a spring fishing trip. We had some great success tournament fishing in 2020. We only fished 3 tournaments in 2020, but were blessed to come out on top and win 2 of 3. Spring is also a great time for team building and corporate fishing events and we have several packages available for groups from 2 to 200. Call us today to book your spring fishing trip today!
Captain Matt Santiago
The New Sabalo 27
As many of you know I switched boat brands after being with my old boat company for 12 years and tons of people have been asking me for a review of the new Sabalo 27. I resisted the urge right away as I felt it was important to really use the boat and get to know it before forming my opinion. You can’t judge a book by its cover, right? Well I have had the boat for about 5 months now and feel confident I know all I need to know about this boat and the company who builds it.
I decided about 2 years ago I was ready to make a move away from my current boat and had a long list of must haves for my next one. Here are some of my must haves when I was in the market for a new boat.
It needed to:
Run AND float in less than 12 inches of water.
Be roomy enough to fish 4 to 6 people comfortably.
Be very stable at rest and while running.
Run at least 50 mph on a single outboard and get 3 MPG at cruise.
Ride exceptionally well in the bay and run good enough to comfortably fish offshore in 2 to 3 ft. chop.
Be built solid to last a lifetime.
Have dual huge livewells with dedicated brass bottom pumps.
Have a completely self-bailing cockpit.
Have easy access to all electronics and pumps.
I wanted a company I could work with in the design and build process to have a boat set up to fish exactly the way I do. After narrowing it down to only 2 or 3 potential brands I decided on the Sabalo 27 built by Bonefish Boatworks.
I must say that I got all that and more in the Sabalo 27. It is a true fishing machine, with yacht quality fit and finish. It will run where most 22 ft. bay boats can’t go and will give you a comfortable ride when most other boats in its class have you calling your chiropractor the next day. I honestly could not be happier with the boat. It has exceeded many of my expectations and Ron Cook and the crew at Bonefish boats stand behind their product no questions asked. They utilize only the finest materials, vacuum infusion, bulletproof construction and assemble with the highest quality hardware in the industry. I have owned or fished extensively on every custom bay boat built on the west coast and many of the popular mass-produced boats in its class. The Sabalo 27 impresses me daily and I always look forward to being on it with confidence knowing it will always do what I need it to.
Bottom line is the Sabalo 27 is special and if you are in the market for a super versatile inshore fishing machine you need to take a very close look at the Sabalo 27. If you have questions about my boat, I would love to share my experiences with you and answer any questions you might have.
Captain Matt Santiago
Now is the time! Tarpon, big snook, cobia, sharks and so much more!
What a time of year we are entering! Now is the time to book your trip for tarpon, cobia, big snook, sharks and the list goes on. Tarpon are beginning to show in big numbers and the bite should be as good as it gets over the next 8 weeks! . Our Cobia migration has already started and we are seeing some really big fish in the 50 to 90 lb. range. There is not too many species we dont have the opportunity to fish for this time of year so let’s get out there for some epic fishing. You can also follow us for weekly updates at www.facebook.com/fishwithcaptainmatt
Be Safe! Captain Matt Santiago
Fishing Trip Outlook for Tampa Bay Fishing in Spring 2020
What a start to our 2020 fishing season! We have been experiencing some phenomenal inshore fishing for snook, redfish, and trout. There has also been a large number of cobia wintering in our bay this year which bodes well for our upcoming cobia season. Over the last few weeks we have had an incredible snook bite and have enjoyed catching some big jack crevalle and redfish. If you are looking for table fare our sheepshead fishing is about to be on fire as well. If the last few weeks are any indicator of how our upcoming spring season will unfold, its going to be a great one! Call us today at 813-205-2327 to book your spring fishing trip. 
Awesome Transitional Fishing
As spring turns to summer fish of all species descend on Tampa Bay to feed and spawn. It is truly one of the best times of year for a variety of species. The Snook and Redfish fishing remains excellent and Tarpon, Cobia, Sharks and Tripletail just to name a few have begun their Tampa Bay invasion. If one or more of these species is on your bucket list its time to get hooked up!
The Inshore Grand Slam
Although variations of this fishing challenge exist throughout the world and our state, The Tampa Bay Grand Slam consists of catching a Tarpon, Snook, Redfish, and Trout all in the same day. It has been one of my favorite challenges for myself and my clients throughout the years and May is quite possibly the best month of the year to get yours.
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The Brown Bomber Invasion
April starts the beginning of Tampa Bay’s Cobia Migration and while many cobia call Tampa Bay home year round its April through July that herds of migratory cobia invade the bay to feed and breed. Cobia are great fighters, great table fare and are one of our most reliable sight fishing targets throughout late spring and summer. I believe there are a few different “migration” patterns for the cobia we catch every year in Tampa Bay. Read More
Wintertime Fishing off the Flats – Fishing Guide Ruskin
As water temps drop, moving off the flats may be all you need to do to keep your rods bent all day.It’s no secret that the fish that roam Tampa Bay’s flats don’t like cold water. Lower water temps mean fish are more lethargic, eat less, and move less. Water temperatures on the clean shallow flats of Tampa Bay fluctuate a lot throughout the day. As the sun sets water temps in shallow water can drop drastically and take several hours of sunlight to start warming back up. Conversely, water temperatures in deeper water stay much more constant. Read More
Everything Is On Fire!!!
It’s one of my favorite times of the year again and the fishing gods must be in a good mood because they sent us some great fishing targets ahead of schedule. Tarpon, Kingfish, and Cobia are three of my favorite fish to catch and all three have already started to show up much earlier than expected. Thanks to the warm weather and influx of bait, these three pelagics are definitely moving in to our area’s beaches and bays. Read More
Lots of Fish
The fish are biting and the weather is nice, everyone should be trying to get out to do a little fishing. I have been fishing Tampa Bay with some great success. Every year the Redfish in Tampa Bay go back to their wintertime spots and I am not talking about the little 8 to 12 inchers that go to the rivers every year. The fish that I am talking about are the big ones. The Redfish are on the flats and some days they are up close to the shore, and some days they are over 500 yards from the shore. Read More