First of all, I’d like to start by saying I hope everybody had a great holiday break with there families and friends.  We have been seeing some warmer temps in the Naples and Marco Island areas. This has really fired up our fishery and has these fish on the move looking for food .  The inshore fishing continues to produce some great winter time fishing with snook , redfish , sea trout and pompano being on the top of our hit list .  Like I was saying we have been having some warmer temps and just a few degrees has made our snook bite really turned on..  I am finding some snook on the outside islands, but most of my action has been deep in the back country using live baits.  We have been seeing morning negative low tides, and this is my favorite time to wedge myself back in the creeks , as I know these fish will be pooled up on the deeper shorelines.  

Live bait has been a little bit, tough to catch, but I have still managed to fill my live well and bring these nice tasty treats right to their front door.  Later on in the afternoon on the higher tides, I’ve been finding red fish in tight to the mangroves . A well placed cast into the open pockets will surely get your odds in the right favor. There has been plenty of jacks & sea trout just about everywhere I’ve been fishing this past week.

Its been really nice to be able catch some really nice trout everyday for my anglers to take back to the grill.  It looks to be another drop in temperatures(cold front ) coming this weekend so make sure you get out this week and get it while the getting is good. 
Tight lines !!!

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

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 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

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

May inshore fishing is in full swing. In the Naples and Marco island areas we have been catching  Snook, Redfish , Tarpon  & mangrove snappers to name a few .  Always my first priority at sun rise is to secure a well full of baitfish (pilchards).  Some mornings it’s harder to catch the bait than it is the game fish we are targeting but it’s essential to an action packed day of fishing .  In the back bays we have been targeting redfish on the higher incoming tides.

The key it’s to stick and move down a shoreline till you find them . Typically you find one you will find a bunch schooling up .  Chumming heavy with live baits will speed up your bite and get these fish out of hiding . I always say “Action brings Action “.   Snook & snapper are also in the mix so be ready for anything .   The water on the beach’s has been gin clear so finding some targets (snook ) to cast at has been an absolute blast .  Looks to be a great weekend to get out on the water and enjoy this great playground ! 
Tight lines!!!

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