Finally, the Fall weather has arrived. Humidity has been much lower which makes the days on the water feel great! October is one of my favorites month to be water with clients enjoying this great fishery.  Naples & Marco islands inshore fishing has really been heating up. Redfish have been showing in consistent numbers. Not only a great fighting fish but great on the grill. I have been finding most of our action on the morning incoming tides and concentrating our casts close to the bushes. Live bait has been the go-to for constant action all morning long. Snook & big jacks have been right in the mix so be ready for anything.    Loads of Spanish mackerel have showed up  just off our beach’s &  around the passes. If you’re looking for nonstop action look for the diving birds and throw a small spoon into the mix and hold on !  C U on the water !

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

It’s been a snook-Ah-thon around the Naples and Marco island inshore areas .   Fish have been congregating on the beaches and close to any rivers , creeks or passes .  I have been finding the bigger baits (pilchards /thread-fin herring ) have been the best at getting these bigger fish to come out of hiding .  The redfish bite has been picking up later in the day on the high incoming tides .  I have been finding them on the outside islands feeding close to the bushes .   Also big jacks have been in the area so be ready for that drag to be screaming .  The snapper bite is still on fire on the last hr of the falling tides and the first hr of the incoming tide .  See you on the water !!!!


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

This weeks fishing around Naples and Marco island was on Fire.  The mangrove snapper bite really picked up around the passes .  We have had really strong tides that have been pushing tons of bait back and fourth through the rivers.  I’ve been mixing it up a bit with keeping some baits(free lined) on the surface and some a bit lower in the water column via egg sinkers.  Both techniques have been producing good action. This time of year you Gotta make sure you have the right live baits and for snappers I like pinky sized pilchards . The smaller baits they seem to eat better and you get a better hook up ratio. 

The red fish bite has been steady on the high incoming tides fishing close to the bushes .   Occasionally when the water is hot , like it is in the summer,  I like to trim the bait fishes tail as to slow him up from swimming to fast.  It’s a good technique to try when you know the fish are there , as you can make your bait presentation as appetizing as possible.
Hope to see y’all on the water!!

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

Hot summer like conditions equal red hot fishing! I know I say it all the time but it’s been another strong week of inshore fishing around the Naples and Marco island areas. Live bait has been all over the beaches and with a few of the cast net you will have plenty for a morning session. Snook have been thick on the beaches and around the passes. Redfish bite has been solid on the last few hrs of the incoming tides. Remember to cast your baits as close to the structure as possible and pick apart the coves and over hangs. Don’t be surprised if your get hammered by some big jacks and mangrove snappers. October is just around the corner and we will have another big push of tarpon moving back up our beaches. C u on the water!

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

Naples and Marco Island inshore fishing has been action packed! Live bait has been thick on the offshore wrecks and piles & with a few throws of the cast net your ready for the backcountry. I’m still in the summertime pattern sticking close to the passes and rivers fishing good current flow. I have been concentrating on shorelines they have lots of small bait activity getting swept by the tidal flows. Our game fish are opportunistic feeders and if they don’t have to move all over the place searching for food,  they will lay directly in the current around structure waiting for bait to get pushed to them.  So it’s very important the cast on the down current side of any fallen trees as this is where you will find snook and reds stacked up waiting for an injured baitfish to pass by. Make sure to set your drags on the tighter side as you can almost bet when they feel the hooks set they will try to get back to the structure. The mangrove snapper fishing continues to be on fire. The only change I would make to my rigs are downsizing my leaders to 25lb floro carbon and a #1 hook. C U on the water!!

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

We are in the hottest part of the summer so make sure your on the water at first light.  I start all my morning trips at 6:30am as this give me enough time to navigate the backcountry and head offshore to load up on live bait. The inshore fishing around Naples and Marco island continues to produce non stop action for snook, mangrove snapper and redfish .   I know I say it all the time but it’s very important to stick to the live bait(pilchards/ thread fin herring ) this time of year.   If you don’t have access to a boat remember while your fishing on the beach to check around the waters edge for cruising bait pods.  Make sure you purchase yourself an 8 foot 1/4in cast net as this is your key to having loads of summertime action.

The mangrove snapper bite has been off the chain. We have been getting our limits daily with some snappers around the 14/15inch range .  Concentrate close to the passes where there’s a lot of current. For snappers I like to drop down to 25 pound floro carbon leader and a number 1 “J” hook .  Cast close to the structure(docks , rocks , fallen trees ) and let the live bait do the rest . I like to place the hook directly through its nostrils as you will get maximum performance out of your bait . Don’t be discouraged if you miss a lot of fish as they are very smart tend to hit the tail side of the bait first which equals a lot of missed fish.   Stay at it and in no time you’ll have your limit & a great supper!!!!

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

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

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