Cool & sunny days have sparked some great winter time fishing. Marco Island & Naples Florida have such a diverse fishery which leads to exciting days on the water. This past cold front has cooled the water temps down enough to really get our sea trout on the feed. When live bait isn’t available my go to combo is a shrimp imitation(gulp new penny color) paired up with a 3/8oz stand up jig head. I use these jigs as search baits to find where the trout are staging up in the particular tide. Once I get a few fish on the line I can then zero in on there location and position the boat just off the school. One thing to remember is to make sure you're making bottom contact. Marco island has some of the best flats and deep holes that these big trout love to lay in .  Get outside and enjoy this backcountry playground!!! Go get M

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

The new year brings in fantastic fishing to the Naples & Marco island area.  This time of year cold fronts are making there way down to south Florida .  We we surely don’t get the cold temps as the rest of the United States but we do see drops in water temps. With this said you have to be a versatile fisherman.  On pre Frontal days went the gulf is calm and waters are clear it’s a good time to hunt down some live bait .   Snook, redfish , jacks , Spanish Mackerel, snapper and sea trout will all be in the same areas looking for a nice big pilchard (live bait) to fill there belly . I like pull up to a spot and before I even get a line in the water I chum with 10-20 live baits .  I find this will get the fish out from there hunts and out on the prowl looking for a quick meal. For my Fly Fishing anglers I have been using these morning low tides to work the shallow bays that have some deeper shorelines.  I like fly’s that have a good profile such as the EP flies . For darker stained water I have been sticking to darker flies (black/purple) & cleaner waters a more natural colors (browns/tans/whites). Get out and go get M !!!  

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

Hope everyone had a great Holiday with family and friends. Here in the Naples and Marco island area we were treated to some fantastic fishing.  I have been taking my trips deep in the backcountry, off the beaten path to enjoy the some of the finest inshore fishing south Florida has to offer.  As always I like to start mornings with catching as much bait as I can fit in my live well .  Then it’s off to the mangrove islands to hunt down snook , redfish , jacks , sea trout , tarpon , & pompano to name a few.  This past week big jacks crevalles  have moved in and if you have never caught a big one before you better hold that pole as tight as you can !!! Sea trout have also been on our hit list . Waters are cool enough that they have been staging up on the morning outgoing tides in big groups . 3/8oz jig head with your choice of a plastic shrimp(gulp) is all you need to get those fish going .  Look for fishing to remain productive this weekend as high press has moved in . Don’t forget to get out of the house and enjoy the great outdoors :) 

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

I just want to start by saying happy holidays to all who have fished with me over this year. The Naples and Marco island Florida fishery remains hot even with some uneasy weather that has made its way down to south Florida. Cooling water temps have really fired up the redfish. The morning incoming tides have been great in getting the bite going. Redfish and snook have been tight to the mangroves cruising the bushes looking  for food. Live bait (pilchards) has still been the best option for getting big numbers of fish to the boat. In the next month or so waters temps will cool even more and live shrimp will be the #1 bait on the menu. As for now we are going to keep crushing the backcountry and enjoy theses comfortable fishing weather. Get out & enjoy the outdoors!!  

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

Christmas is next week and the Naples and Marco Island fishing continues to be productive. Snook are all over the outside island and in the deeper backcountry bays and creeks.  Redfish have been mixed right in with all the action.  Big jacks have been roaming the backcountry so don’t be surprised if your bait gets blasted by a ten + pounder.  This weeks Full moon low morning tides will have the fish piled in the deeper holes . Get out and enjoy the skinny water fishing!!!   

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

Naples and Marco Island Florida has been enjoying this late November weather but we have some cooler weather on it’s way. Snook are still plentiful from  the outer islands to the deep backcountry. Redfish and sea trout have been mixed right in with the snook so at every cast you never know what your gonna get. Next week , with cooler temps I will start to look deeper in the islands for our game fish and really start to slow down bait presentation.   Sea trout and redfish will start to fire up and a 3/4oz jig with a gulp will be an excellent choice in targeting these cooler water fish.  Catch m up and enjoy these sunny cool conditions !!

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

The Naples & Marco island fishing continues to be productive. Weather temps are mild with highs around 80 degrees and water temps in the low 70s. This weeks morning incoming tides have been pushing loads of bait in and out of the passes .   Snook , redfish , jacks , snapper , sea trout have been congregating close to these shorelines. Snook are still stacked up on the outside islands and points looking for an easy meal .  If you can time it right look for the incoming cold fronts and make sure your on the water a few day before it’s arrival. The snook and redfish go crazy this time of year just prior to these fronts .  Live bait is plentiful on the beaches or the offshore piles.  Load up ,chum heavy and  you can just about get them eating out of your hands. Catch M up !!! 

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

Last a week our first big cold front finally made it down to South Fl.  The pre front conditions last week were on fire .  As these fronts are approaching the Naples & Marco island areas the barometric pressure drops and makes the fish go into crazy feeding mode.  So let’s just say we were treated to a fishing bonanza.  With the cooler temps in our areas, look for our game fish to start to move further into the backcountry .  As we fall deeper into winter , the back creeks and bays are where u will find most action.  Enjoys these great temps ..Get out & get M !!!

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

From the beach to the backcountry, the redfish and snook bite remains hot . The  Naples and Marco island fishing offers Such a variety of Fish from sea trout , tarpon , red fish , pompano , snapper , jacks , sharks , permit and snook to name a few. What’s great,  is most species can be caught in the same locations .  Live bait is still plentiful and with a few throws of the cast net my live well is “blacked out”.  Snook have been congregated around the beaches and passes. It’s not uncommon to catch 20+ fish in a morning trip .  Catch M up !!

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

It doesn’t get any better than light tackle fishing in SW Florida. Naples & Marco island Florida offer such vast network of islands and shorelines that have unlimited amounts of fish. Snook have been chewing good on the lower tides. With the low water there is allot less area for them to hide & easier for my anglers to get a bait close to there hiding location. It’s common place to be able to sight fish them as they just lay motionless under a fallen tree just waiting for a bait to pass by.  Redfish, sea trout, jacks, snapper and tarpon will all be around the same areas so make sure your ready for anything.  Go get M !!!

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