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

We have been inshore fishing around the Naples and Marco island areas and seeing non stop action.  With the summer time push of small bait fish around the beaches and passes look for fish (snook , redfish , sea trout , snapper & tarpon ) to school up. We have been loading up on pilchards(baitfish) with a few throws if the cast net and this has been the key to getting big numbers of fish to the boat.  

​I have been fishing for redfish at first light on the high incoming tides .  I have been chumming heavy to get these fish going and once we start getting a few on,  I can usually keep the school fish around and pick them apart. Summer heat is on us  and if you want the best time to fish , its at first light when these fish are most active. The name of the game is beat the heat as summer fishing is in full swing. 


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

It’s been a snook bonanza around the Naples and Marco Island areas. Summer time always has a hatch of baitfish that linger around the beaches and passes..  Snook and other game  fish will congregate close to the bait schools eating as long as the tide is moving . This past week we have had a strong incoming tide that has really had the fish hungry.   One of my favorite ways to target these fish is to put my boat right next to them( using trolling motor ), just in casting range & fire some live baits at them.

There are tons of mangrove snapper in amongst where all the snook are hiding, so don’t be surprised if you lose quite a few bates to very active fish.   We are in our typical summer pattern with light winds in the morning and thunderstorms in the early evenings. It’s best to get up early,  beat the heat and get in on some of that morning time action. 
C u on the water !!!!!!

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

The inshore fishing around the Naples and Marco island areas continues to produce. Snook are roaming the beaches in good numbers.  Around the mangroves they aren’t coming out far to chase a live bait. On there hot summer days a well placed cast 1 to 3 feet from the mangroves is what it takes to get these big snook to eat. The sea trout bite has slowed but the pompano bite has picked up.  Pompano fishing is really productive right off our beaches and in our passes. A 1/4-3/8oz jig tipped with a small piece of shrimp is exactly what they are looking for.  We are in a very hot summer pattern so the name of the game is get out early and get it while they get N is good. This weeks outgoing Tides will be just perfect for some nonstop, snook action. C u on the water !!!


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

This weeks inshore fishing around the Naples and Marco island areas have been action packed .  Snook , redfish & mangrove snapper have been our main targets . Schools of these game fish have been piling up around the passes in beaches, feeding heavily on the small baitfish that have been caught in the tides.  This is where your boats trolling motor comes in the play. This is such an important piece of equipment to my day-to-day life on the water. Being able to methodically work a shoreline helps me dial in to exactly where these fish are schooled up and once I find them, I can press the anchor button on my remote and sit exactly perfect without spooking any fish.

Snook & mangrove snapper have been just about everywhere indulging on all the schools of small baits. I am downsizing my hooks as the baits we have been using are much smaller than we had a few months ago.  I am also downsizing my leader to 25 pound fluorocarbon due to the gin clean waters . Look for this action to continue throughout the week. We have been seeing some morning thunderstorms so it’s been hit or miss whether or not you’re running for cover or Your Poppin snook left and right. The storms don’t last too long so if you’re able to hide and stay dry, give it some time and you’ll be right back out fishing before you know it. C u on the water !!  
 
Capt. Tim Daugherty
www.fishthesalt.com
(239) 280-8138

After a week of record rain in the Naples and Marco island areas , we are right back into some great inshore fishing action.  Snook have been prevalent on the beaches, around the passes and outside islands.  If you’re looking for a great exciting bite get up early ( first light ) and throw some Top water plugs(skitter walk or Zara spooks).   Any shoreline that has standing birds or small baitfish schooling is a great place to start.  

Stay as far off the shoreline as you can and work your plugs about halfway between you and the boat and repeat process. This is a great method, not only to enjoy a great bite, but it’s also a great way to locate fish quickly.  There’s also been some nice redfish hanging around the deeper shorelines on the higher incoming tides. A well placed cast close to the bushes with ensure you get that hard strike . Look for our weather pattern to continue, great fishing in the morning and late afternoon thunderstorms. Get out and get yah some !!!!!

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