Great inshore fishing continues around the Naples and Marco Island areas . Strong morning incoming tides have Snook, redfish , mangrove snapper, jacks & sea trout on the feed. I have been concentrating on points, middle  islands and beaches that have big pods of bait fish surrounding them.  It’s been one and done for catching  live bait on the offshore Wrecks and rubble piles.  My ticket to success is to get as much bait as possible so that I am able to chum throughout my trip and keep our fish chewing all morning long .  Sight fishing Snook in the shallows has been really successful all week as they are on the move looking for baitfish to eat .  Be ready for loads of mangrove snapper to drive you crazy as they are masters of picking your bait right off the hook.  Just have to be patient as the bigger ones are on the deeper submerged trees but you might have Weed out a bunch of small ones. Big Jacks have been  just about everywhere so be ready for that drag to scream .  As these high flood morning tides continue so will the good fishing.

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

September is a great time to be on the water as there is little to no boat traffic and the fishing is spot ON!!  Naples and Marco island have been producing some great inshore  fishing action. Snook have been our main target with jacks , snapper and redfish in the mix. Live bait has been so plentiful that’s it’s been one or 2 throws with the cast net and you’ll have more than enough for a morning session.

I have been finding redfish on the high incoming tides around the deeper shorelines. A well placed cast close to the mangroves with insure a good hard strike .   Don’t be surprised if a Goliath or gag grouper decides to take a run at yah. This week weather looks good for some calm early morning action but don’t sleep in to Late as the summer heat us in full effect and those afternoon storms will be coming in fast!  Catch m up ! 

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

Afternoon Summer heat has the morning inshore bite on fire. The Magic hr is right when the tide switches from slack to incoming. Around the Naples and Marco island areas look for snook/reds/& snapper to be on the feed. One gimme is when you pass a shoreline with snowy egrets stacked up on the shorelines. These birds are there just waiting for the sun to come out but they’re there enjoying the bait fish Buffet. This is where I have been finding most of my action.

My tactic is simple start up current and while using my trolling motor I can methodically fish the structure as I’m passing by it. When one of my anglers gets a fish on Or an area just looks super fishy I can use my spot lock( an anchor feature on most trolling motors) to keep me right next to the strike zone.  

Live bait is plentiful on all beaches but if you’re looking for some bigger size you have to head offshore to the near shore Wrecks or any rubble pile in that 20 foot of water depth . A 3/8in 10/12ft cast net is my goto for getting those big pilchards of the bottom. The Mangrove snapper bite has been a go to if you’re looking to take some great tasty fish home for taco night. Look forward to seeing y’all on the water!!!

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

May inshore fishing around the Naples & Marco island areas ,never disappoints. There’s such a variety and abundance of fish that frequent our area during this time of year.  Snook , redfish , pompano , snapper , sea trout , tarpon , jacks , Goliath grouper and sharks are all on my hit list during this time of year.

Live bait is still plentiful on the offshore rubble piles and wrecks . My favorite net to load up on bait is a 10 to 12 foot 3/8 inch black pearl cast net. This is the perfect net to get down 20 feet and come up with a live Well full of beautiful Baits. These live bates are the key to having an action packed day on the water.  For my fly anglers what a perfect time of year to stock snook on the beaches.

The combination of gin Clearwater and lots of sunshine equals great site fishing opportunities. I like to cast more natural patterns due to the clean water( white /tan/olive/ colors).  The key is to stay as far off of the fish as you can as they can be spooky in these conditions. A long cast in front of the fish , with a good fast retrieve Will ensure a hard strike. Great time to get out early before the midday heat & enjoy some great Southwest Florida action.

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

It’s that time of year where all of our game fish (tarpon/sea trout/snook/redfish) are on my hit list. In the Naples and Marco island area, we have snook all over the beaches and passes feeding on the small pods of bait fish. If we see birds (snowy egrets / pelicans) lined up on a shoreline I will always swing in to soak some live baits.

Speaking of live baits the off shore structures (wrecks/rubble piles ) will be holding some nice big baits this time of year.  When it comes to catching your bait Good electronics (simrad/Garmin) are imperative to have , so you are able to  differentiate the structure and the bait that is hovering along side it. There have been some Redfish mixed in with the snook and trout so don’t be surprised to hook into some big boys.

Tarpon are  starting to make their migration down the beaches and passes. I like to use live small blue or pass crabs but if there in the deeper holes my favorite is a slimy catfish chunk or mullet.  Look for out weather to stabilize and the fishing to get better and better. My favorite time of the year is now. See you on the water ! 

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

The inshore fishing around the Naples and Marco island area has been nothing short of stellar. We are still feeling the hard SE winds but that hasn’t affected the bite. Snook have been scattered around the outside islands and deep in the creeks. The morning low incoming tides have been great for targeting snook , tarpon , redfish and jacks on those deeper shorelines .   Live bait is always the ticket to getting those big fish out of hiding so take the time in the morning to load up your live-well.    We are in this March weather pattern where we get 4 days of nice light winds and then the FAN gets turned on and we’re back in the creeks hiding from the winds . With that said , take advantage of the Good days and get out on the water and enjoy this great spring weather .


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

The inshore fishing around Naples and Marco island offers not just vast fishing opportunities but a variety of species.  Our last cold front passed through a few days ago and that dropped our temperatures and switch the wind direction to a hard NW winds .  When this happens it’s time to leave the outer islands and move deeper into the backcountry & creeks in search of cleaner water.   Big snook have started to move in and what a blast to watch my anglers rod double over and drag start the scream.  It’s very important in that first 10 to 15 seconds to not let that fish get deep into the sunken cover .  Make sure your drags are set to medium heavy and you’re using nothing less than 40 pound leader .  Sea trout have been showing up on the morning falling tides . I haven’t been doing anything different, they have been mixed in with the snook . If you’re looking for some great fish for the grill there have been some good mangrove snapper‘s hiding around the deeper structure. I like to downsize my tackle for them to 25 pound floro carbon leader and a small 1/0 hook with a small pilchard. Nothing beats snapper tacos . Get on the water and get yah Some !!!


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

It’s been an action packed week of inshore fishing in the Naples and Marco island area.  Big snook have been showing up on the outside points and shorelines . I have been concentrating on areas that have good current and structure.  Morning tides have been low but incoming which have really concentrated the fish on the drop offs .  Big live baits are key to getting this big snook to leave there hiding places and chase your bait .  My rig is a 3ft piece of 40lb monofilament leader attacked to a 2/0 J-hook .  Make sure you set your drags on the heavy side as that first initial run can be fast and hard .  Mixed in with the snook have been some big “jack Crevel” action .  It’s not uncommon for all my anglers to be hooked up at once , as they are running in schools eating everything in there path .  We are just coming off a cold front that had dropped some morning Lows into the 40s so look for this week to be on the warming trend and the fishing to improve even more. I have always said good weather =s good fishing.   C u on the water !!!

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

The Inshore Fishing is ramping up in the Naples and Marco island areas. Gulf waters are now in the mid 70s & the warming trend has the fish chew N! This week we have had a strong morning outgoing tides so I have been looking for big snook to be moving from the offshore wrecks to the outside islands.  Big live baits (pilchards) have been the key to success in getting these big snook to come out of hiding. I have been using no less than 40lb leader rigged up to a 2/0 J hook. There has been some consistent sea trout fishing and have been catching them mix in with the snook.

For trout, I Like to use a small spilt shot 3 inches above the hook, just to get that bait a few more feet closer to the bottom. Also, There have been unlimited amounts of big jacks to keep that rod bent & drag screaming all day long! C u on the water !

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

Just can’t beat this South west Florida weather. The fishing around Naples and Marco island Continues to stay red hot. Snook have been my main target and I have been finding some bigger fish starting to moving in.  I wish I could tell you exactly where I am locating these fish but they seem to be kind of spread out around the outside islands and deep in the backcountry.  When the gulf waters start to heat up around 80° They will start to move out of their winter haunts and head towards the beaches and passes to fatten up .  I haven’t been finding much steady Redfish action but I have been catching a few here and there.  Sea trout have still been prevalent and I am really able to dial them in on the low tides we have been having all week  !  I know I say it all the time but live bait is the ticket to nonstop action all day. With the clean gulf water and good steady east winds look for pilchards and herring to start making their way towards the beaches. It’s always a good rule of thumb to look for birds or diving pelicans and that should give you their position. We’re gonna have another great week of weather and look for fishing to ramp up even more. Take advantage and get out on the water ! C u out there !


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