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

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

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

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