Finally, the Fall weather has arrived. Humidity has been much lower which makes the days on the water feel great! October is one of my favorites month to be water with clients enjoying this great fishery.  Naples & Marco islands inshore fishing has really been heating up. Redfish have been showing in consistent numbers. Not only a great fighting fish but great on the grill. I have been finding most of our action on the morning incoming tides and concentrating our casts close to the bushes. Live bait has been the go-to for constant action all morning long. Snook & big jacks have been right in the mix so be ready for anything.    Loads of Spanish mackerel have showed up  just off our beach’s &  around the passes. If you’re looking for nonstop action look for the diving birds and throw a small spoon into the mix and hold on !  C U on the water !

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

This weeks fishing around Naples and Marco island was on Fire.  The mangrove snapper bite really picked up around the passes .  We have had really strong tides that have been pushing tons of bait back and fourth through the rivers.  I’ve been mixing it up a bit with keeping some baits(free lined) on the surface and some a bit lower in the water column via egg sinkers.  Both techniques have been producing good action. This time of year you Gotta make sure you have the right live baits and for snappers I like pinky sized pilchards . The smaller baits they seem to eat better and you get a better hook up ratio. 

The red fish bite has been steady on the high incoming tides fishing close to the bushes .   Occasionally when the water is hot , like it is in the summer,  I like to trim the bait fishes tail as to slow him up from swimming to fast.  It’s a good technique to try when you know the fish are there , as you can make your bait presentation as appetizing as possible.
Hope to see y’all on the water!!

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

Hot summer like conditions equal red hot fishing! I know I say it all the time but it’s been another strong week of inshore fishing around the Naples and Marco island areas. Live bait has been all over the beaches and with a few of the cast net you will have plenty for a morning session. Snook have been thick on the beaches and around the passes. Redfish bite has been solid on the last few hrs of the incoming tides. Remember to cast your baits as close to the structure as possible and pick apart the coves and over hangs. Don’t be surprised if your get hammered by some big jacks and mangrove snappers. October is just around the corner and we will have another big push of tarpon moving back up our beaches. C u on the water!

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

We are in the hottest part of the summer so make sure your on the water at first light.  I start all my morning trips at 6:30am as this give me enough time to navigate the backcountry and head offshore to load up on live bait. The inshore fishing around Naples and Marco island continues to produce non stop action for snook, mangrove snapper and redfish .   I know I say it all the time but it’s very important to stick to the live bait(pilchards/ thread fin herring ) this time of year.   If you don’t have access to a boat remember while your fishing on the beach to check around the waters edge for cruising bait pods.  Make sure you purchase yourself an 8 foot 1/4in cast net as this is your key to having loads of summertime action.

The mangrove snapper bite has been off the chain. We have been getting our limits daily with some snappers around the 14/15inch range .  Concentrate close to the passes where there’s a lot of current. For snappers I like to drop down to 25 pound floro carbon leader and a number 1 “J” hook .  Cast close to the structure(docks , rocks , fallen trees ) and let the live bait do the rest . I like to place the hook directly through its nostrils as you will get maximum performance out of your bait . Don’t be discouraged if you miss a lot of fish as they are very smart tend to hit the tail side of the bait first which equals a lot of missed fish.   Stay at it and in no time you’ll have your limit & a great supper!!!!

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

If you're looking for the Ultimate challenge “sight fishing” is as good as it gets. Our beaches around Naples & Marco island are some of the best areas to spot fish cruising the shallows. If I get the right “combo” meaning sunshine and east winds you can bet to find me looking for snook and reds in the shallows. Live bait is always a safe bet that you're gonna get these fish to respond to a well placed cast but you can also use Flies or artificials. Mirror lure makes some of the best hard baits around. I always go with a natural color and no bigger than 5ins as these fish are feeding on small summertime baits. The key is not to spook them so if you're fishing from shore(beach ) make sure to stay high up on the sand so they don’t see you. If you're on a boat, stay as far off  the beach as you can , just so you can reach with a hard cast. Remember to lead the school of fish and let them swim to your bait and then start to work your retrieve so that your bait is in their cone of vision. It’s also a good idea to take off the 2 treble hooks that come standard on hard baits with split ring pliers . I then replace them with standard one 1/0 J hooks as this is so much better for the fish & won’t do damage to the fish like treble hooks do. Get out and get 'em while the getting is GOOD !!!!

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

The summer time bite around Naples and Marco island continues to produce a variety of inshore species . Snook are always on the top of my hit list but don’t be surprised to catch sea trout , jacks , Goliath grouper , snapper and redfish as they all intermix with each other . The mangrove snapper bite has been on fire.  Great hard hitting fish but also so tasty on the grill.  This bite will continue all summer so get out there and get M !!!   The key to having great inshore action is live bait !!! I know I say it in every report but it’s true . Take the time to look around and locate where the the “right size“ bait fish are schooling up . This will insure you have a nonstop action packed inshore day on the water . We are still in that late afternoon rain pattern so get up early and hit it hard in the morning and by noon get back home and relax.   

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

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