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

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

Good inshore/backcountry fishing continues around the Naples and Marco island area. It’s been windy at times so it’s got me fishing a bit deeper in the 10,000 islands. Snook , redfish sea trout and tarpon have all been around and with a light wind morning we are able to target all species .  Live bait is always the ticket to getting a action packed day . When the winds decide to lay down I will turn my attention to tarpon that are on there sumner migration down our beaches . A live mullet, herring or small blue crab is what they like,  so make sure to cast well in front of the schooling fish and wait for the line to come tight and hold on !
See you out there

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

The inshore / backcountry fishing around Naples & Marco island has been phenomenal. Snook , sea trout and redfish have been our top light tackle targets. Live bait(pilchards & thredfin Herring) has started to really show up on the nearshore rubble piles and beaches so make sure you fill you live-well so your ready for anything the day throws at yah. Big Tarpon are now making there yearly migration just off our beaches.  A sunny light wind day really makes it fun to spot these fish cruising the sandy flats heading north. These tarpon love big baits with allot of action and here are some of my favorites,  small blue crabs (silver dollar size) thred fin herring , big pilchards & mullet . Just remember when you spot a school of fish to get your bait in front of the school & your boat into position to make that cast well in front of the schooling fish.  Let them swim up to your bait and wait for your line to come tight and hold on !  I prefer circle hooks (4/0 & 5/0) with a 5ft piece of 60lb leader. The summer heat is approaching so get out early and enjoy the cooler temps !!

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