If you're looking for the Ultimate challenge “sight fishing” is as good as it gets. Our beaches around Naples & Marco island are some of the best areas to spot fish cruising the shallows. If I get the right “combo” meaning sunshine and east winds you can bet to find me looking for snook and reds in the shallows. Live bait is always a safe bet that you're gonna get these fish to respond to a well placed cast but you can also use Flies or artificials. Mirror lure makes some of the best hard baits around. I always go with a natural color and no bigger than 5ins as these fish are feeding on small summertime baits. The key is not to spook them so if you're fishing from shore(beach ) make sure to stay high up on the sand so they don’t see you. If you're on a boat, stay as far off  the beach as you can , just so you can reach with a hard cast. Remember to lead the school of fish and let them swim to your bait and then start to work your retrieve so that your bait is in their cone of vision. It’s also a good idea to take off the 2 treble hooks that come standard on hard baits with split ring pliers . I then replace them with standard one 1/0 J hooks as this is so much better for the fish & won’t do damage to the fish like treble hooks do. Get out and get 'em while the getting is GOOD !!!!

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

Back at another solid week of inshore fishing around the Naples and Marco island areas. Snook have been on fire with loads of medium sized fish around to keep us busy. Look for pods of fish along our beaches in less than a foot of water.  If you like sight fishing this is one fun way to target them. The inshore redfish bite has been picking up  with a few nice fish sprinkled in with all the snook action. We have been focusing on the high incoming tides and making sure to keep our baits close to the bushes .   Don’t be surprised in the process if you get picked off by some hungry mangrove snappers. If you looking for a some great fish for the grill , snappers are some of my favorite. Don’t forget they have to be a minimum Of 10inches and your allowed 5 per person .  Snapper tacos anyone ;)

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

The summer time bite around Naples and Marco island continues to produce a variety of inshore species . Snook are always on the top of my hit list but don’t be surprised to catch sea trout , jacks , Goliath grouper , snapper and redfish as they all intermix with each other . The mangrove snapper bite has been on fire.  Great hard hitting fish but also so tasty on the grill.  This bite will continue all summer so get out there and get M !!!   The key to having great inshore action is live bait !!! I know I say it in every report but it’s true . Take the time to look around and locate where the the “right size“ bait fish are schooling up . This will insure you have a nonstop action packed inshore day on the water . We are still in that late afternoon rain pattern so get up early and hit it hard in the morning and by noon get back home and relax.   

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