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

Outstanding week of inshore light tackle fishing .  Weather has been great , with lower humidity days and a nice NE breeze.    The Naples and Marco island areas have been consistently producing some stellar snook and red fishing .  I say it every time but live bait (pilchards/ thread-fin herring )  are the key to a drag screaming morning .  On the higher incoming tides I have been concentrating in the bays and creeks closest to the main rivers and passes. There is still a ton of small baitfish around so these fish are staying close to the source .  Find the food and you will most certainly find the fish !!!  

On the later morning outgoing tides I have been getting my anglers into a free for all .  What I mean by this is chumming heavy on the outside points where there is steady current flow.   Once we get these fish going (snook , redfish , jacks , sea trout , snapper ) it’s a toss up what’s gonna hit you bait .   Winds will die off a bit by this weekend allowing the gulf waters to clear up and get even more fish schooling up .  Get outside and enjoy these great temps …See yah on the water !!!!!!  

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

Last week hurricane Milton brought high winds and storm surge to the Naples and Marco island areas but we were spared again .  Fishing around these hurricanes can be really productive.  I have found over the years as these weather systems are approaching the pressure begins to drop causing the fishing to go crazy .  Also 4-5 days after the hurricane has passed , when the water begins to clear up the fishing goes crazy again . This weeks inshore fishing has been on fire . We are averaging 30-40 snook a trip.  

Pilchards and thredfin herring are abundant and a live bait put in the right place will not get passed up on .  It almost feels like these fish haven’t eaten due to the hurricane and are now chewing on anything that passes by .   On the later morning incoming tides I have been finding redfish close to the bushes . I know I say it allot but I love to chum heavy to draw them into our zone .  Once we start catching a few then I know we are gonna put a beat down on them .  Our first cold front comes Thursday morning and I have to say I am so excited to feel temps in the 70-80s it’s my absolute favorite.  Its been a hot fishy summer and my favorite months are coming soon !!  C u on the water !!!!   

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

We just had hurricane Helene pass just off our coast . A lot of areas from Fort Myers north to the panhandle suffered significant damage . Naples and Marco Island were lucky this year with just minimal storm surge .  Just before this hurricane arrived our inshore fishing was red hot . This always happens prior to a big storm arriving , when our pressure starts dropping and our Gamefish get really hungry.  

Around Naples & Marco island we have been targeting snook , redfish , sea trout , jacks & mangrove snapper to name a few . Live bait has been piled up on the beaches and around the mouth's of the passes.  Best size net to use during the summer months 1/4in  8 to 10ft length.  Once you have a pile of bait secured, it’s game on for some morning time action .  

I’m starting to see a lot of schools of mullet showing up, and this usually means the tarpon are not far behind. Look for the tarpon fishing to ramp up in October & my favorite way to target these fish is to throw artificial(paddle tails ) around the schools of mullet that are being attacked.   October & November are two of my favorite months to be fishing in SW Fl  . C U all on the water ;) 

Naples and Marco Island inshore fishing has been most productive early in morning and late in the evenings.. Every week we get closer to October, I am starting to see more redfish action. This weeks strong  morning incoming tides we have been catching these fish tight to the trees so pick your pockets and get your baits deep under the structure to give these fish the best look . Mangrove snapper are still plentiful and what a great fish to take home for the grill.  We will start to see more and more tarpon showing up this month and through October as we always get a late mullet run. The best action will be at first light look for pods of Mullet to be balled up around the passes .  There’s still plenty of live bait (pilchards ) on the near shore wrecks and rubble piles. If you’re looking to chase some tarpon, there’s nothing more tasty to them and a nice 6 to 8 inch mullet .

Every week we get closer to October I am starting to see more redfish action. With a few throws of the cast net, live bait is still the easiest way to insure an action packed morning. These fish are tight to the trees so pick your pockets and get that bait deep to give these game fish the best look. Mangrove snapper are still everywhere and it’s been great if your looking for a great fish taco dinner. Tarpon will start to show up again so no time to sleep in as you have to get while the getting is good.

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

Naples & Marco island inshore fishing continues to produce some great summer time action.   To be productive this time of year stay close to the beaches and passes where the currents are strongest. This is where u will find all the small pods of live bait that our gamefish have been feasting on .   Snook have been just about everywhere but we having the best action on the beaches . All summer I take clients to sight fish on our desolate beaches .  There are a few things you need to be successful, these are light winds and sunny conditions.   When targeting these fish make sure you stay just in casting range but not any closer as these fish spook easily .  A Long cast with a fresh live bailt(pilchard, mullet, thredfin herring) will insure you get blown up by one of these stealthy hunters .  Also starting to see Spanish mackerel and Bonita  just off our beaches feasting on pods of tiny baitfish . A small silver spoon reeled erratically will get that drag screaming! Weather pattern has been consistent with good fishing early and  heavy thunderstorms in the afternoons.  Get out and enjoy this great summer. See you on the water.


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

Hurricane Debbie passed rt on by the Naples and Marco island areas . There was allot of coffee colored water around and displaced fish but we have turned the corner and are back to some red hot inshore fishing .  Live bait has piled back up on the beaches and offshore rubble piles .  I am catching a mixed bag of bait from pilchards, threadfin herring & scaled sardines . These are all great snook , snapper , redfish and tarpon baits . I have been loading up my Livewell with way more than I need , as if you read any of my previous reports you know I love to CHUM !

 Constant action is the name of the game as I want my anglers to worn out by the end of our charter .  This week the early moring ( sun up)  incoming tides have been on fire . I can see and hear fish blowing up on baitfish schools that are passing by.  So you know what I would do?  I lay just in casting range of these fish with my trolling motor on spot lock and let the beat down begin ;)   Most mornings, on the rt tide , you can expect a bite on every well placed cast .  Look for this action to continue as we are coming up on some full moon tides. Still the best bet is set that alarm clock for first light, get out and get it while they getting is good!!!!!!!!!!!!

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

We got right on the bite just before hurricane Debby passed rt on by . Naples and Marco island have been red hot for some stellar inshore light tackle fishing . Snook are always biting all summer long but this past week we have been seeing better size fish on the morning incoming tides .   We have been focusing on the passes and river mouths where small live bait school are prevalent.  Mangrove snapper are all over the place but if you want to target the bigger fish it’s best to chum heavy to draw out those weary big girls out of hiding.

Loads  of Jacks and Spanish mackerel are everywhere so its great to catch a variety of species on any given day .   We are still seeing some juvenile tarpon in the backcountry just depends on the winds and tides whether or not they’re up rolling around .  Look for the fishing to improve this coming week as our winds will go back to east and this will allow the gulf to get back to its gin clear appearance.  C u on the water !!!!!

Capt. Tim Daugherty