March winds have been keeping us hunkered down in the backcountry enjoying some of the calm quiet waters that it offers . The inshore fishing around the Naples in Marco Island areas can be somewhat tricky this time of year due to the inconsistency of our weather. There’s plenty of fish to be caught, you just have to understand that our gamefish are not balled up in these conditions, they tend to spread out and hunker down.  

If you’re able to secure a live well full of bait, you can have an action packed day on the water. There has been a consistent snook, sea trout, jacks & snapper bite going on every day . It’s routine for me to pull up to an area throw about 50 baits in my Chum bat and let them loose to draw out any action. Once we see some activity on the surface, it’s time to settle in and get to work. We are just coming off full moon tides, so I’m finding most of my action to be the last few hours of the outgoing and the first few hours of the incoming.

Looks like we have another small front approaching this week so look for directions to change back to Northwest for a day.  This weekend looks outstanding. Hope everybody has a great Easter Sunday , you know where I’ll will be <*{{{{>< !!!!!!!

March’s weather can be unpredictable but every week we get treated to a few slicked out days and hungry fish . 

Naples and Marco island have been producing some great inshore fishing action.  Snook & sea trout have been top on the hit list .  The trout bite has been most productive around the passes, where there is a good steady current flow  . We have been using live pilchards and a small split shot just above the hook to get our baits down in the strike zone .  Once I find a few trout in an area ,  I can then zero in and pick them apart.


I have been finding some snook out front on the beaches, but having most success in the creeks and middle bays. The key has been getting as much bait in the morning as possible, that way you are able to chum these areas. Chumming not only gets the fish in the feeding mode, but also keeps them around. There’s been some absolute monster jack crevalles around, so be ready as they hit hard and run even harder.  If you get one of these big ones on , just remember to take your time, as they never come in eazy. We have some rainy weather coming this weekend, and the change in our winds, so look for that clean water & you will find the fish.    

C u on the water !  

Capt. Tim Daugherty
www.fishthesalt.com
(239) 280-8138

Absolutely a killer week of inshore fishing in the Naples and Marco Island area . Finally we got a good stretch of weather with highs in the 80s. This warm weather brings gulf temperatures up and gets our game, fish active.  We have been catching good numbers of snook and trout on the outside points where there is good current flow. We have been using live pilchards that I’ve been castnetting on the offshore rock piles. One really good tip and trick is if you notice these bats can sometimes out swim the fish you are targeting.

What I like to do on these bigger baits is get my scissors and trim their tails . This makes your bait slower and unable to dodge a hard strike . If our weather continues to be in the upper 80s, our gulf temperatures will remain in the upper 70s and this will bring on our first push of Tarpon just off our beaches. It’s getting close to that time of year where our fishery will be action packed with all gamefish on our target list . What a great time to get out and enjoy this great playground we have. C U on the water !!!!!

Capt. Tim Daugherty
www.fishthesalt.com
(239) 280-8138

Despite the cool winter temps the inshore fishing has been heating up. This week in the Naples and Marco island areas we have been experiencing full moon low moring tides. These conditions will school up the fish if you know where to look . We have been concentrating on the deeper holes that have a steady rolling current. It’s a mixed bag of fish on these tides (snook , tarpon , sea trout , jacks , snapper ) all seem to congregate in the spots.

I have been catching live bait offshore and turning around & heading deep in the backcountry to fish. This week’s weather looks to be on point with highs in the upper 70s and light morning winds. What a great time of the year to be on the water enjoying this pristine playground . C u on the water!

Capt. Tim Daugherty
www.fishthesalt.com
(239) 280-8138