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This week’s inshore fishing around the Naples and Marco Island areas have been nothing short of stellar. Snook has been our main target, but we have also been catching redfish, sea trout jacks & snapper . Live bait is always the key to get into action all morning long. Finally live bait has started to show up on the near shore wrecks and with a few throws of the cast were loaded up and ready to get after it !
This weeks negative “full moon” low tides have been the key to consolidating these fish in certain spots. The last hour of the outgoing & the first hour of the incoming have been the magical tides for us getting these big snook to eat. It seems once the tide really gets rolling the bite shuts down and I’m guessing these fish hunker down to not expend energy fighting the tides. You know what they say timing is everything! The sea trout bite has been really convenient for us as they have been mixed in with the snook. Most of these fish are 16 to 20 inches and are more than willing to slam a live bait drifting in the current. Look for the bite to continue as our weather outlook looks great for the weekend and all of next week. What a great time to be on the water, enjoying this wonderful playground we have . Tight lines !!!!!! <•{{{{{>< Capt. Tim Daugherty www.fishthesalt.com (239) 280-8138
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Cold winter conditions have settled into Naples & Marco island areas & this has the inshore bite firing up . I know most people don’t like the cold here in south Florida but honestly, it’s a nice change from the constant summer heat. Don’t be discouraged when you see temperatures dropping, this will concentrate our fish , making it easy for you to target them. When I see a week of highs in the 70s & lows in the 50s I know exactly where I’m going & that’s deep in the back country. The trick is getting your boat deep in the creeks and concentrating on the deeper holes & shorelines.
These fish(sea trout / pompano / jacks / snapper / sheep head & ladyfish ) will be actively feeding during these colder weeks u just have to get to them. I know the limits of my boat and I know when I am able to get to these areas without running a ground . Once back there, I usually have these areas all to myself, and if I can time it just right, these fish will be concentrated waiting for an easy meal. With this said, make sure you’re fishing close to the bottom, using live shrimp or artificial, such as jigs . This will ensure an action packed morning on the water . Looking to next week we have warming trend look for the bite to fire back up ! C u on the water !!!! Capt. Tim Daugherty www.fishthesalt.com (239) 280-8138 The Naples and Marco Island inshore fishing continues to produce some action packed days on the water! This past week we have been on the hunt for sea trout, Pompano, Jack’s & redfish. The sea trout action has really been the star of the show. We are finding good numbers of fish deep in the creeks on the low incoming tides. This winter time fishery does much better when it’s cooler and stays cool for a period of time . My experience tells me that these fish settle into the deeper holes when the water temps get into the upper 50s & 60s. This makes it easy to target areas that have deeper pinch points (where the water has to funnel through) that lead into back bays.
I think with the colder nights these fish pull off the flats and settle into these holes were the water temps much more stable. Next thing you have to look for is a nice rolling tide incoming or outgoing doesn’t really matter, but it has to be moving. All winter I have been throwing 3/8 ounce stand up jig heads with a DOA paddle tail(white or root beer) or a 6 inch gulp (new penny color). These are excellent search baits to cover areas and really dial into a good bite . When I pull into one of these areas, I usually give my anglers a dozen or so cast before I know either it’s time to stay or pick up and let’s run to another. That’s the winter game stick and move. We have been seeing some really cool temps all week but next week will see a slight rise and temperatures & This should turn on some other species. C U on the water !!!!! Capt. Tim Daugherty www.fishthesalt.com (239) 280-8138 The winter drop in water temps have the inshore trout bite around Naples and Marco island firing! This time of year you have to adjust to these colder temps. We do have some weeks where our weather can be in the mid 70s and you can start to see some snook chewing again but for the most part, you have to dial into the winter Fishery. With this said it’s time to focus on artificials, a.k.a. jigs. There’s no live bait(pilchards) around this time of year and with the cold water temps you really have to slow your presentations down.
Still my favorite go to is a 3/8oz stand-up jig head with a DOA paddle tail , root beer or white in color. I love seeing these new or full moon negative low tides in the mornings as I know these fish will not be underneath the bushes, but packed in the deep holes in the backcountry. There is one problem getting to these places on a negative low tide. If you are able to navigate the maze of shallow waters and make it back to these deep holes, you can usually expect lots of action. I have been finding lots of sea trout, pompano , whiting , jacks and redfish . The morning low incoming tides have been my favorite as these fish tend to be on the move or nosed up in the current looking for an easy meal. I always tell my anglers to bundle up this time of year and stay warm while that morning sun is rising. Dressing properly can ensure you have an enjoyable morning session on the water. See you out there ! <•{{{{{>< Capt. Tim Daugherty www.fishthesalt.com (239) 280-8138 First of all, I’d like to start by saying I hope everybody had a great holiday break with there families and friends. We have been seeing some warmer temps in the Naples and Marco Island areas. This has really fired up our fishery and has these fish on the move looking for food . The inshore fishing continues to produce some great winter time fishing with snook , redfish , sea trout and pompano being on the top of our hit list . Like I was saying we have been having some warmer temps and just a few degrees has made our snook bite really turned on.. I am finding some snook on the outside islands, but most of my action has been deep in the back country using live baits. We have been seeing morning negative low tides, and this is my favorite time to wedge myself back in the creeks , as I know these fish will be pooled up on the deeper shorelines.
Live bait has been a little bit, tough to catch, but I have still managed to fill my live well and bring these nice tasty treats right to their front door. Later on in the afternoon on the higher tides, I’ve been finding red fish in tight to the mangroves . A well placed cast into the open pockets will surely get your odds in the right favor. There has been plenty of jacks & sea trout just about everywhere I’ve been fishing this past week. Its been really nice to be able catch some really nice trout everyday for my anglers to take back to the grill. It looks to be another drop in temperatures(cold front ) coming this weekend so make sure you get out this week and get it while the getting is good. Tight lines !!! Capt. Tim Daugherty www.fishthesalt.com (239) 280-8138 We are right back in the swing of things with nonstop inshore fishing action around the Naples and Marco Island areas . We are just coming off a cold front and finally the winds have clocked back around east which is allowing our gulf water to clear up . When this happens, you tend to see fish schooling up and bait fish, showing back up along the beaches, passes and wrecks . These are all things you want to see before the next cold front arrives. As they say , You gotta get it while they’re getting as good. We are still finding good numbers of snook and big jacks in the back country. We have been having really extreme low tides in the mornings as we’re just coming off a full moon.
’ve been concentrating on creeks and rivers in the backcountry that have deeper shoreline. I am finding success in these spots , as there is nowhere else for them to go due to the low water levels . The trout bite has remained consistent due to the cold water temps . These fish are a staple in our winter months as they are less sensitive to temperature changes. The best way to target these fish are jigs. 3/8oz stand up jig head attached to a root beer colored soft plastic is a deadly winter time combo. Don’t be surprised if you catch some nice size pompano during our winter months . These fish tend to be running the same channels that the trout like to sit in. The extended forecast is showing some nice weather coming for Christmas. This will warm up the gulf temps and get the snook back feeding. Hope everybody has a happy holiday. See yah on the water ! Capt. Tim Daugherty www.fishthesalt.com (239) 280-8138 This past week we have been treated to some warmer weather and calm winds. This means the inshore fishing in the Naples and Marco Island areas have been on fire . I always say it, but weather has a lot to do with our fishery. The areas I fish( northern part of the Ten Thousand Islands) are very temperature sensitive due to their shallow depths. When our weather is stable, and the sunshine is able to warm our waters up a few degrees, It really turns our fishy on. This week we have been treated to some good snook , redfish , sea trout and jacks action .
Live bait is always a great way to target our fish but also when weather temperatures get cool jigs are my go to.. This year I’ve been having a lot of productivity on the root beer color soft plastics . Curly tailed or shrimp pattern all seem to work great when paired up with an 1/8oz or 3/4oz jig head . These are great search baits to locate where these fish or schooled up . Once you get into some action, it’s very easy to dial it in. Look for sea trout to be around the points with current and in the deeper holes in between the islands. These fish love to lay face in the current and wait for bait fish to get washed in with the tide . I’ve noticed our water clarity this week has been gin clear . So it’s best to make long cast and really work area as to not spook these fish that may hear or see you coming. It’s like clockwork, another cold front due in tomorrow late afternoon which will drop attempts yet again. This is the norm for this time of year so remember the backcountry is where the action will be. See you on the water !!!!!!! Capt. Tim Daugherty www.fishthesalt.com (239) 280-8138 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 |
CAPT. TIM
The latest Naples inshore, backcountry and Gulf fishing report by Capt. Tim Daugherty. Archives
January 2025
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