The hot inshore bite continues around the Naples and Marco island areas.   I can’t say it enough, but it has been absolutely beautiful on the water.  Temps in our areas have been highs in the upper 70s  with lows in the 60s. Fishing around these cold fronts can sometimes be tricky as the fluctuation of temperature can cause these fish to hunker down.

When a cold front has pushes through and the water temperatures have dropped , it’s a perfect time to break out the jigs..  If you’re not too familiar with what I’m talking about , it’s a lead headed jig ( 1/4 & 3/8) with a soft plastic attached.  There’s not a specific brand I use , as I like to mix it up to see what they’re into. One of my go to colors is root beer with a 3/8oz jig head .  

You have to remember when fishing these baits , is to make bottom contact , very important. When our water temperatures drop our game fish hunker down on the bottom so if you’re going too fast of a retrieve, they will never see it.   I like to make it as easy as possible for them to not only see my bait, but I have enough time to swim over and inhale it.  One winter time trick I like to use , is a product called procure.   All this is , is a fish attractant with the consistency of toothpaste that you squirt onto your soft plastic to give off  smell to these fish. I have done a lot of experimentation  and these scents really do work.    

After these cold fronts have pushed through & the weather stabilizes it’s back to live bait.    I love filling my live well full of pilchards ( live bait ) and taking them deep into the back country , where I know the water will be slightly warmer.   I’ve noticed just a few degrees warmer can really turn on the bite. This is why the backcountry is my favorite place to be during our colder days .  See you on the water !!!!!


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

Finally some welcomed relief from the summer heat .  Naples and Marco island temps have been absolutely perfect with highs in the low 80s and winds out of the East .  We are due to have our first cool down (cold front ) this Wednesday afternoon and will drop temps into the 70s.

The inshore fishing has just been nothing short of stellar . Snook have been hungry and we have been feeding them some nice  big live baits (pilchards) . They have been concentrating around the inlets and passes still feeding on the schools bait fish they get pushed in and out with the tides. On the higher water, I have been prospecting deep in the back country and having some great success with not just snook, but redfish as well.  

One of my favorite things to do this time of year ,as bait is plentiful is to take a live well full into the back creeks & chum chum chum . This is how I locate where these fish are hiding , in a very short period of time. I have also been finding some really nice sea trout out front along the beaches and passes mostly on the incoming tides. I’ve noticed when the clean water makes it into the areas I am fishing that these trout get very active.

Yesterday I had four anglers on board  and we were able to get our limit(3 per person ) of trout in 1/2hr or so . Can’t beat that !!!  Look for this cool down to push our snook further into the back country as they seek warmer waters.  Enjoy these great temps we’re about to have.  See you all on the water.. 

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

The Naples and Marco island inshore fishing continues to produce non stop action . Weather temps are mild with highs around 80 degrees and water temps in the low 70s.  This is always my favorite time of the year to be on the water . This weeks morning incoming tides have been pushing loads of bait in and out of the rivers and passes .  Snook , Redfish , Snapper , jacks ,and sea trout have been congregating close to these shorelines .  Snook are still stacked up on the outside islands and points looking for an easy meal.

We are starting to catch good numbers of redfish and sea trout around the outside creeks rivers & passes.  I use the same rig for all these fish and it’s nothing special but it’s tried and tested to catch fish .  I use 15lb braided line (spider wire / power pro ) to a 3ft section of fluorocarbon leader(30lb)  and a 1/0 hook. The beaches and near shore wrecks are loaded up with pilchards and threads so with a few throws you should be loaded up for an action packed morning of inshore fishing! C yah’ll on the water !!!

The Naples & Marco island fishing continues to be productive. Weather temps are mild with highs around 80 degrees and water temps in the low 70s. This weeks morning incoming tides have been pushing loads of bait in and out of the passes .   Snook , redfish , jacks , snapper , sea trout have been congregating close to these shorelines. Snook are still stacked up on the outside islands and points looking for an easy meal .  If you can time it right look for the incoming cold fronts and make sure your on the water a few day before it’s arrival. The snook and redfish go crazy this time of year just prior to these fronts .  Live bait is plentiful on the beaches or the offshore piles.  Load up ,chum heavy and  you can just about get them eating out of your hands. Catch M up !!!

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