It’s that time of year where all of our game fish (tarpon/sea trout/snook/redfish) are on my hit list. In the Naples and Marco island area, we have snook all over the beaches and passes feeding on the small pods of bait fish. If we see birds (snowy egrets / pelicans) lined up on a shoreline I will always swing in to soak some live baits.

Speaking of live baits the off shore structures (wrecks/rubble piles ) will be holding some nice big baits this time of year.  When it comes to catching your bait Good electronics (simrad/Garmin) are imperative to have , so you are able to  differentiate the structure and the bait that is hovering along side it. There have been some Redfish mixed in with the snook and trout so don’t be surprised to hook into some big boys.

Tarpon are  starting to make their migration down the beaches and passes. I like to use live small blue or pass crabs but if there in the deeper holes my favorite is a slimy catfish chunk or mullet.  Look for out weather to stabilize and the fishing to get better and better. My favorite time of the year is now. See you on the water ! 

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

Great weather has finally moved in & It’s been red hot inshore fishing in the Naples and Marco island areas. Snook have been my main target and with this great weather, it’s brought some big girls out to play. Strong incoming morning tides and big live baits have been the ticket to some great action. Sea trout have been in the deeper cuts closer to gulf and they have been  just as eager to hit a live bait. I’ve been catching some trout over the 20 inch mark and these are our spawning females so make sure to take care and release them unharmed.  If you’re looking for some great fish for that taco night supper ,mangrove snapper have been chewing good . I prefer to use a 3ft peace of 25lb fluorocarbon leader as the big ones can be very leader shy.  Winds are starting die off a bit this will clean up the gulf waters even more and will open up some opportunities for better site fishing. Hope everybody has a great weekend look forward to seeing you on the water.


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

The spring winds around the Naples and Marco island areas haven’t slowed us down one bit.   We have been seeing winds in excess of 25mph gusting at times around 30 , so on these windy days it’s had us fishing deep in the backcountry.  Big snook have been laying up in the creeks waiting for an easy meal .  We have been using big live baits (pilchards ) to get these big fish to eat. Sea trout have been showing up in big numbers as the spring spawn is in full effect.      I have been catching them on the incoming tides , in the back bays where there is a Good steady current flow .   There has also  been some big jacks flying in with the tides so be ready for that drag to start screaming.   

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