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

June never disappoints. If you’re looking for a bigger quality fish and lots of action this is the month to be on the water. Marco island and Naples Florida’s backcountry & inshore fishing has such a verity of fish to target. We can be targeting snook but  also have redfish, sea trout , Goliath grouper, mangrove snapper, tarpon and Jack Crevalle all in the mix. This type of fishing is very exciting as you never know what you’re going to get on any cast. Live bait is still my go to when targeting these bigger fish. Very important to spend the time catch bait as this will insure an action packed morning.

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

Last weeks inshore & backcountry fishing was on point, with big numbers of snook and redfish on the line. June is always one of my favorite months to target snook and redfish around the Naples and marco island areas. I really focus on the islands that have a lot of birds activity.  This is due to the amount of small baitfish that gets pushed in with the tides.  Position your boat just off of where you see the tiny ripples of small bait fish and cast some live bait (pilchards/ thread fin herring/mullet ) directly at that shoreline.  Also at times I like to get my bait directly down to the bottom so I use a small split shot to get underneath the bait pods.  If you’re looking for some good fish to take home our mangrove snapper bite has been on fire.

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

In the Marco Island and Naples areas, it’s been a consistent week of catching. Snook are all over the beach’s and on the outside islands. They are congregating around the schools of a bait fish and eating everything that passes by. This week the tides have been really strong and that has our game fish (snook , redfish , sea trout , tarpon ) on the prowl. There has also been some bigger sea trout and bigger jacks in the mix so be ready for anything. If you’re looking for some great fish for the grill mangrove snapper by has been on fire. This past week it’s been no problem getting your limit ( 5 per person with minimum of 10inches )to take home . The name of the game  is to get out early and beat the heat.

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

Just wanted to start by saying hope everyone had a great memorial day weekend. This past week my anglers have been treated with some great fishing opportunities. Naples and Marco Island in shore and back country fishing this time of year is as good as it gets. Big snook are in abundance cruising the fallen trees looking for an easy meal. I have been using big pilchards (live bait) to get these bigger fish to come out of there hiding spots . Sea trout and redfish are also mixed in the fun. If you’re into throwing artificials then get up early or wait till sunset( low light conditions ) & throw some top water plugs (Zara spooks / skitter walks ). Nothing beats a top water explosion. Tarpon have also been in the mix with some smaller juveniles tucked away in the deeper holes.

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

Absolutely beautiful here in the Naples & Marco Island Area & the inshore and backcountry fishing is red hot. Water in the gulf is gin clear and fish are everywhere. Big jacks & snook have been cruising the shallows in big numbers. I always say this time of the year you have to keep your head on a swivel as these schools of fish can appear right in front or just behind you. I like to keep my customers baited up and ready to throw at any given time. Redfish & sea trout have also been mixed in with the snook and jacks. It’s a free for all as this consistent beautiful weather  has settled in. It’s time to go get “M” !!!!!!

Capt. Tim Daugherty