The inshore Snook bite remains hot around the Naples and Marco island areas . The action has really picked up around the Passes and outer islands. Pods of small bait are everywhere and that has our game fish on the feed. There has been a solid mangrove snapper bite around the passes. Look for rocky structure (docks , trees , deep shorelines ) and use a live bait to get them fired up .  Remember to down size you tackle to 25lb fluorocarbon and a #1 hook.

If I have plenty of bait I like to live chum heavy to really get them up and moving. Mixed in the action will be some good sized snook and with that light leader it can be challenging to keep them from breaking the leader. Jacks have been crushing baits on the morning incoming tides so chum heavy and look for the water to irrupt.
C u on the water !


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

May inshore fishing around the Naples & Marco island areas ,never disappoints. There’s such a variety and abundance of fish that frequent our area during this time of year.  Snook , redfish , pompano , snapper , sea trout , tarpon , jacks , Goliath grouper and sharks are all on my hit list during this time of year.

Live bait is still plentiful on the offshore rubble piles and wrecks . My favorite net to load up on bait is a 10 to 12 foot 3/8 inch black pearl cast net. This is the perfect net to get down 20 feet and come up with a live Well full of beautiful Baits. These live bates are the key to having an action packed day on the water.  For my fly anglers what a perfect time of year to stock snook on the beaches.

The combination of gin Clearwater and lots of sunshine equals great site fishing opportunities. I like to cast more natural patterns due to the clean water( white /tan/olive/ colors).  The key is to stay as far off of the fish as you can as they can be spooky in these conditions. A long cast in front of the fish , with a good fast retrieve Will ensure a hard strike. Great time to get out early before the midday heat & enjoy some great Southwest Florida action.

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

May is finally here and it has the Inshore fishing on fire! I look so forward to this time of year as the winds die off and all of our game fish are moving around looking for eazy meals. The May tarpon immigration is in full effect & starting to see good numbers just off our beaches on the incoming tides.  I prefer a Palm size blue crab free lime just in front of the score of rolling fish wait for your line to come tight and start to real.    Snook have been just about everywhere but I’ve been having most of my success close to the passes & in around the outside islands. I am seeing the first wave of small fry bait showing up on both the incoming and outgoing tides. It’s typical find a lot of Snook ,sea trout, snapper & redfish close to these schools of baitfish.  I’m still using my typical set up which is 40 pound monofilament ,attached to 15 pound braid  with a 2/0 J-hook. The live Baits we see in May are absolutely perfect,  big hearty pilchards and scaled sardines. During some of the slower tide phases it’s best to chum hard to get these lazy fish to fire up. It’s that time of year you wanna be on the water watching that sunrise and looking for rolling tarpon or beating up the trees looking for big snook .  As they say the early bird gets the worm look forward to seeing you on the water!


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