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

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

June never disappoints. If you’re looking for a bigger quality fish and lots of action this is the month to be on the water. Marco island and Naples Florida’s backcountry & inshore fishing has such a verity of fish to target. We can be targeting snook but  also have redfish, sea trout , Goliath grouper, mangrove snapper, tarpon and Jack Crevalle all in the mix. This type of fishing is very exciting as you never know what you’re going to get on any cast. Live bait is still my go to when targeting these bigger fish. Very important to spend the time catch bait as this will insure an action packed morning.

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

Last weeks inshore & backcountry fishing was on point, with big numbers of snook and redfish on the line. June is always one of my favorite months to target snook and redfish around the Naples and marco island areas. I really focus on the islands that have a lot of birds activity.  This is due to the amount of small baitfish that gets pushed in with the tides.  Position your boat just off of where you see the tiny ripples of small bait fish and cast some live bait (pilchards/ thread fin herring/mullet ) directly at that shoreline.  Also at times I like to get my bait directly down to the bottom so I use a small split shot to get underneath the bait pods.  If you’re looking for some good fish to take home our mangrove snapper bite has been on fire.

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

Just wanted to start by saying hope everyone had a great memorial day weekend. This past week my anglers have been treated with some great fishing opportunities. Naples and Marco Island in shore and back country fishing this time of year is as good as it gets. Big snook are in abundance cruising the fallen trees looking for an easy meal. I have been using big pilchards (live bait) to get these bigger fish to come out of there hiding spots . Sea trout and redfish are also mixed in the fun. If you’re into throwing artificials then get up early or wait till sunset( low light conditions ) & throw some top water plugs (Zara spooks / skitter walks ). Nothing beats a top water explosion. Tarpon have also been in the mix with some smaller juveniles tucked away in the deeper holes.

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

More of the same outstanding fishing around the Naples and Marco island areas .  This time of year lends itself to some of the best snook, redfish & sea trout inshore/backcountry fishing in SW Florida.  Due the hard east winds we have had , the gulf waters have laid down and become gin clear.  Anytime we have this clear water our game fish seem to get into bigger groups and are easier to catch .  Spend the time in the morning to look for live bait(pilchards) as this is the key to getting big numbers of fish to the boat .   I am concentrating on shorelines with current and deeper edges . I will position my boat so my anglers are just in casting range and we slow drift out live baits down the mangrove shorelines.   This time of be ready for anything as big fish will be moving through .   Get out and enjoy this great weather !!!

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

Naples and Marco island fishing continues to produce great inshore action. Big snook are starting to move into the near shore islands. My favorite method to getting these big snook out of there hiding spots is a well placed cast with a big live bait (pilchard).  I like to beef up my leaded line to 40lb this time of year as these big fish once hooked will tend to head right for the bushes. Redfish have been mixed in with the snook so be ready for anything. This week most of my redfish action has been on the higher incoming tides. These fish have been really close to the Mangroves so make sure to get you baits as tight to the cover as you can . If you are Successful in catching allot of live bait don’t hesitate to chum heavy to bring these game fish out of the hiding spots. Not only will this get them and other species of fish feeding but it will speed up your fishing action. See u on the water !!!

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

The inshore/backcountry fishing around Naples & Marco island has been nothing short of stellar. 
This week Snook , redfish , sea trout have all been on the hit list.  Sea trout have been spawning so most of these big fish will be full of eggs. Make sure to take Extra care in releasing these big females as the will produce tons more babies for ya to catch down the road. I have been using big live baits(pilchard) to get these bigger fish to come off the bottom & explode on the surface.   Snook and redfish have been hanging tight to the mangroves. It very important to make a accurate cast to the shoreline pockets and overhangs as there fish will be slow crushing looking for an easy meal. Take advantage of these nice comfortable weather days and get out and Get Yah Some !!

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

Marco island and Naples Fl offer a verity of inshore/backcountry species. We all love to target snook ,tarpon and redfish but we also have sea trout, triple tail and monster jacks that roam the backcountry. Trout have been plentiful around the outside island and the deep backcountry holes. Shrimp tipped jigs are great at getting action on a cold winter days. When the weather warms and gulf temps rise to 70 degrees or greater look for bait to start to move back onto the beaches . 10ft  1/4in mesh cast net is perfect for those fast winter beach baits. With cold fronts coming every week , make sure to take advantage of those good days and get out on the water and enjoy this great playground.

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