Absolutely beautiful weather here in southwest Florida and our red hot fishing continues . As you can see from the pictures snook have been our main targets. I am finding bigger snook closer to the passes where there is good current. The last part of the outgoing tide in the first part of the incoming seem to be the “magic” for Getting these big girls to eat. The most important thing you can have on your boat is a live well full of fresh bait . If you don’t know , Catching live bait(pilchards) in South Florida can at times be harder than catching our targeted fish . Take the time in the morning to find the right size baits & they can be found around the beaches or on the offshore Wrecks & rubble piles. When fishing these baits along the shoreline I like to use nothing less than 40lb leader attached to a 2/0 or 3/0 J hook . This is my standard go to Rig that I use every day. The mangrove snapper fishing has really died off in the back country and now there is a plethora of big jacks cruising these shoreline. You’ll be very surprised when an 8 to 10 pound jack grabs hold of your bait and gets your drag scream N !!!! Look for this great fishing to continue as high pressure has settled in. Hope to see y’all on the water!
Capt. Tim Daugherty www.fishthesalt.com (239) 280-8138
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Naples and Marco Island have been the seen for some epic snook fishing . It’s very important and should never be over looked, is that you have all your gear(line/leader /drag) dialed in as these fish with put your tackle to the test . My go to tackle tip is 15lb braid(power pro) , 7ft med-light Star rod , and Florida fishing products (reel) carbon 4,000 . I have been using 40lb leader with a 2/0 J hook. This set up is light but just enough to get these big snook to the boat . I have been running offshore to load up on big baits(pilchards ).
With a well full of bait I head back into the islands to catch the morning incoming tides . The best bite for me is that first hr when the tide has bottomed out and is now just starting to come in . The way I fish a shore line is very methodically not leaving any deep pocket or tree from getting a cast presented. If you take your time and put your bow into the current , and back troll using your trolling motor you can make all your cast count! There have been plenty of big jacks that are just as happy to explode on your live bait so be ready for anything. First cold front has just passed on thought and gulf waters are Clearing up fast so Look for the bite to get stronger every day. C u on the water !!!!!!! Capt. Tim Daugherty www.fishthesalt.com (239) 280-8138 I am finally back on the water after hurricane Ian ripped through SW Florida. My heart goes out to family & friends who live in Ft myers, Cape Coral , Sanibel Island areas as they took a direct hit and some lost everything …. We as Floridians will ban together and come back stronger than before.
As far as the fishing goes there has been a Stellar snook bite going on . These fish are hungry as it seems they haven’t eating since before the hurricane. I am having no problem in getting live bait on the offshore rock piles . Make sure you use a 1/4in 10ft net as there is a mix of small to medium baits . There has been a crazy jacks bite going on so be ready when fishing those deeper shore lines with current on them , as they hit like hard and run fast. October is my favorite month for redfish. I focus most of my attention on the outer islands closest to the gulf. This weeks strong morning incoming tides will be the perfect match to finding some great snook and redfish action . See y’all on the water !!!!! Capt. Tim Daugherty www.fishthesalt.com (239) 280-8138 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 Just back from our keys vacation and right back to some stellar inshore light tackle fishing . Naples and Marco island fishing have been producing great snook ,snapper , sea trout and pompano fishing. Now that the beaches are jammed packed with live bait look for our game fish to be concentrated around the passes and creek mouths. I always like to pull up to a spot and chum with live bait to get the fish up and Feeding & then it’s easy to keep that rod bent . If the action dies off a bit I can simply shuffle 30 yards down and repeat that process.
The snook will be schooled up and mixed in you will have jacks , snapper, redfish and sea trout . It’s a mixed bag of fun so be ready for anything . There have been some pompano cruising down our white sandy beaches. I like a 1/4 or 3/8oz brown tube jig tipped with a piece of fish bite ( for sent ) & I also add some pro cure shrimp sauce all over the jig . This will ensure that you get a strike from even the finicky fish. Get out early and beat the heat in the summer storms and enjoy some summertime action. Capt. Tim Daugherty www.fishthesalt.com (239) 280-8138 There has been a good inshore Snook and snapper bite going on in the Naples and Marco island area. The mangrove snapper have been on the spawn and they are chasing baits likes it there last meal . I have been concentrating around structure(trees/rocks / drop offs) and have been free lining live pilchards . I like to pull up to a spot & chum with about 50+ live baits while I am getting my anglers ready to fish . It’s music to my ears when I hear my baits getting smacked on the surface.
Then it’s as easy as throwing your bait into the feeding frenzy and hold one. Just a reminder if harvesting , it’s a minimum of 10 inches and five fish per person. The snook bite has been on fire and we have been having our shots at some big girls slow cruising the shorelines. Just remember when you do spot a fish, make sure to cast you’re bait in its cone of vision which is about a foot or two in front of its face. Don’t be surprised if you happen to see a loaner red fish mixed in with these snook. This summer action will continue with the mornings and evenings being the best times to get on the water . Tight lines !!!!! 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 Great weather has finally moved in & It’s been red hot inshore fishing in the Naples and Marco island areas. Snook have been my main target and with this great weather, it’s brought some big girls out to play. Strong incoming morning tides and big live baits have been the ticket to some great action. Sea trout have been in the deeper cuts closer to gulf and they have been just as eager to hit a live bait. I’ve been catching some trout over the 20 inch mark and these are our spawning females so make sure to take care and release them unharmed. If you’re looking for some great fish for that taco night supper ,mangrove snapper have been chewing good . I prefer to use a 3ft peace of 25lb fluorocarbon leader as the big ones can be very leader shy. Winds are starting die off a bit this will clean up the gulf waters even more and will open up some opportunities for better site fishing. Hope everybody has a great weekend look forward to seeing you on the water.
Capt. Tim Daugherty www.fishthesalt.com (239) 280-8138 |
CAPT. TIM
The latest Naples inshore, backcountry and Gulf fishing report by Capt. Tim Daugherty. Archives
March 2024
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