Despite all the covid-19 issues we are all facing, it’s been nice to get on the water  & get away from the world and of course pull on some nice fish. Naples & Marco island continue to produce some outstanding inshore fishing.  The backcountry has been red hot with some smaller tarpon in the deep holes . Look for a low incoming tide and bounce from spot to spot till you see rolling fish . Once found stay as far off them as you can & make long casts . Live bait( pilchards/ threds) have been working to perfection.  If artificials are what you enjoy throwing check out spooltek lures. I’ve been having great success on the bigger Tarpon & It’s a great search bait to slow roll through the strike zone . Snook and redfish have been around the middle islands. Look for current coming out of creeks or small rivers that roll down a shoreline . These fish will be staging up looking for a quick meal . If you’re in town and looking to get out and enjoy some social distancing,  please don’t hesitate to give me a call and I’ll be happy to put you on the fish. 
<•{{{{>< 


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

There has been allot going on past week with Covid-19 outbreak. I hope all your family and friends are doing well and look forward to seeing yah all reel soon. I have been out fishing everyday around Naples and Marco island areas with clients enjoying the clean air and great fishing. This March has been one of the best weather months I can remember. I am talking 85 degrees ,sunny and light winds.  There has been small tarpon In the back country’s deeper holes. The best tides to target them are Just when the tides are switching. Look for rolling fish and present a bait to float naturally in the current. Snook are always on my top targets this month .  Live bait , Artificials(Zara spooks) & flies(ep’s ) can all be used to catch these big snook. I prefer using top waters early morning before the sun is peeking up over the horizon. Once the sun is up I like to go to live bait and flies . Redfish and sea trout have been on the outer islands and in the beach troughs.  With our waters gin clean look for fish cruising the white sandy beaches. Once located stay as far off as you can cast as these fish can be somewhat spooky due to the clear conditions. Try to lead these fish a few feet in front of their nose and look for the strike. Pompano have also been running in the troughs along the beaches and outside islands. My two favorite colors are chartreuse and pink diamond jigs. They are also one of my favorite fish to target on the fly . I like a Clowser pattern with very bright colors and this should ensure a strike from one of these hard fighting fish.  Anybody still in town who would like to get out ,get some fresh air and tug on some of these great fish Give me a call. Look forward to fishing with you!!!!

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

I know I say it all the time but this past week has been nothing short of stellar. Gin clear water has moved in and has made some of the best sight fishing I have seen I some time. Snook , redfish & sea trout are all over the beaches and outside islands . Live bait /artificals/flies have all been great I getting a tight line . Look for big tarpon to start moving down out beaches . Live crabs , mullet , thread fin herring are some of there top choices of bait .  This coming week is looking to be another perfect tine get out in the water and enjoy the great outdoors !!!


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

High pressure has now settled back into the Naples and Marco Island area.  The inshore & deep backcountry is where I have been concentrating . Strong incoming tides in the mornings have had our game fish on the feed .  Live bait is still the preferred method & with a few throws of the cast net we are ready to have a non stop action day .   I like to bounce around the maze of creeks and bays looking for just the right recipe to hold passing fish . Once I find a hot corner it’s “power pole down “ and let the games begin . Look for this weeks fishing to remain hot as these morning low tides will have the fish pooled up in the deeper holes or roaming around in the skinny shallows .
Go get M !!!

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

It’s been another rock solid week of inshore fishing in south Florida.  Not sure where to start as the action around Naples and Marco island continues to be action packed . Cooler morning have shifted my attention to redfish and sea trout . Sea Trout have been staging up on the flats and the deeper holes . The main thing you have to look for is water movement or current .  These fish like to be lazy(or conserve energy) and let there food get pushed to them . Once we get a few good trout on the line we Can dial into a good bite . The red fishing has been productive on the high incoming tides .  I like to search for creek mouths In the backcountry and these can tiny and hidden by the mangroves so Its important to really study the landscape . I think that little bit of water movement in and out of these creek mouths get the redfish and snook congregating.  Remember it’s important to get a good cast as close to the mangroves these fish like to run just underneath them . A live pilchard with a pop N cork(about 2ft up) pined tight to the bushes is a deadly combo for getting these game fish on the line .  Get out get M !!!

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

The inshore fishery of Naples & Marco island has really been producing some great February fishing.  Temps have been unseasonably warm and all of our local game fish (snook,tarpon ,sea trout,redfish) are on the hit list. Low morning negative tides have the fish concentrating in the deeper holes with current. A good cast close to the shoreline will almost always get someone’s attention. Just remember if live bait isn’t around due to muddy water you can always throw artificials.  I like to use a saltwater Assassin (Misssissippi Hippie) color with 3/8 jig head .  Fish these same areas you would with live bait and you will always get some  quality fish to eat .   It’s Looking like some cold fronts are headed out way toward the later part of the week . This will cool temps down and I will start to work my way deeper in the backcountry looking for that clean warmer water . This time of year ,you just have to fish with what Mother Nature gives you .  Live bait or artificials it’s all Fishing, so get outside and enjoy the day.  

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

Summer like conditions continue in Naples & Marco Island Florida. The Gulf of Mexico is clean and gin clear & We have a really been getting spoiled with these nice fishing conditions. Snook are in abundance on the nearshore islands and deep in the back country.  There are also sea trout , snapper, tarpon, black drum & redfish are all targets this month. Live bait is still the best method to put big numbers in the boat .  With just a few throws of my cast net my live well is full and ready to hunt down some fish in the back country.   If this weather continues look for bigger tarpon To start roaming the outside flats & near shore Islands. Gotta love SW FL inshore fishing !!!! 


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

The inshore fishing around the Naples and Marco island areas remain productive . Cold fronts have been making there way down to SW Fl weekly. This means you get a few days of colder/windy conditions then a handful of really nice conditions . With this said I am still focusing most our fishing deep in the backcountry Sea trout , snook , redfish , jacks , pompano and even bluefish have all been mixed in . Live bait (pilchards) have been working great for all species but when cooler temps move I switch to Artificial‘s( saltwater Assassins 4in , gulps, or any shrimp patterns) on a 3/8oz jig head . We are back in the 80s all week so look for fishing to remain hot. 
Catch M Up !  

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

Solid week of some great fishing continues. Cold fronts are now regularly making there way down into the Naples and Marco island areas. With this said,  I have been switching into winter mode and concentrating more & more in the deeper backcountry. Cooler water temps have our game fish pushing deeper into the holes and staging up on the flats to feed.  Snook bite has been solid but look for the bite to tapper down as the water temps drop even more . Sea trout and redfish will be top on our target list.  Stay tuned <•{{{><!!!

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

Despite some cooler temps the Naples and Marco island inshore fishing remains hot . This time of year the backcountry is the place to fish with its endless islands ,creeks and shorelines.  Winter time is  when gulf waters temps drop so look for game fish to head to back bays and creeks to spend there winter.  If you’re not into catching live bait or simply just can’t ever find it, here are some of my favorite winter time Artificial’s: Shrimp tipped jigs (brown/olive ), saltwater assassins, gulps(new penny/root beer) on a 3/8oz jig head. The name of my game is stick and move . This just means to give an area 10 mins if no action move on. Once I find a shore line that has some life on it, I will fish it thoroughly. This month Look for the sea trout and redfish bite to really fire up. Get out & go get M !!

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