Summer time fishing is heating up around the Naples and Marco island areas. Snook have been all over the backcountry and beaches. If you happen to get a light wind,  sunny morning nothing beats some sight fishing for our local game fish. When looking for snook in the beaches pick a stretch of beach that is quiet and slow motor down it staying about 30 yards off the beach looking for cruising fish. Once you find a good pod of snook shut off the big motor and lower down your trolling motor. This will allow you to sneak back up to the school without spooking them.  Then it’s just “target practice” !   When I take clients deep into the back country I’d like to bring a lot of live bait . This allows me to Chum heavy , to draw out the fish that are deep in the cover.  Once you get the fish Poppin they will slowly understand what’s on the menu and it’s game on! The Mangrove snapper bite has been on fire. With a well full of small to medium size pilchards you have exactly what these snapper are looking for. Make sure to drop your leader down to 20 pound floral carbon as they can be very finicky. Don’t be surprised if you get your limit within the first 30 minutes! Hope to see you on the water!

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

I know I say it a lot but it’s been another amazing week of sight fishing Snook around the Naples and Marco island areas.  The bite this week has been on fire on the morning outgoing tides.  I’ve been concentrating around the passes and river mouths where there is constant flow of water & small bait fish .   One good Q is to look for waiting birds on the shoreline as they are there picking off the small bait fish that are getting caught in the tides.  You will not just fine birds there but also schools of snook lining up to feast on the Buffet .  My technique is to fish a shoreline in sections while drifting live baits down the current edges . If I don’t get a bite in five minutes or so I pick up and move about 30 yards further down the shoreline and repeat process.  Once I am able to locate a few fish,  I know the school is close and I will sit just off the shoreline and cast my baits directly into waiting schools . There has also been some Redfish , snapper and jacks all mixed in so be ready for anything .  Don’t forget to get out on the water early and beat the afternoon heat  !!!!! See you on the water


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

Past few weeks It’s been an early morning bite around the Naples and Marco island areas. Big female snook have moved in and have brought a harem of males with them. Its common to see 20+ male snook following the much bigger female up and down the shallow beaches. This makes for some great site fishing opportunities to see if you can make a perfect cast to a big snook. Don’t worry if you miss your shot as there’s plenty of medium size males to hammer that live bait. Redfish have been sprinkled in amongst the snook so be ready for anything. Finally we’re starting to see some big jacks showing up which if you’ve never caught one will surely test all of your forearm strength. With these afternoon thunderstorms like clockwork don’t forget get up early & hit it hard and get off the water before the afternoon heat and thunderstorms turn up.  See yah on the water!!!!!!!


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

It’s been prime fishing around  the Naples and Marco island areas. Snook have been packed in around the passes and beaches. There has been schools of small bait fish everywhere and our game fish have been taking to the buffet every morning. Look for these fish to be slow cruising the shallows & be ready to make that cast.  If your looking for some great fish for tacos mangrove snapper are some of my favorites.  These snappers are mixed in the same areas as snook so be ready for anything. One tip for some great snapper action is to make sure you use 15-20lb fluorocarbon as there are one smart fish and are very leader shy.  Happy 4th of July to all !!!!!

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