Foggy mornings in the Naples in Marco in Island areas, have the inshore snook chew N !!!   Fog usually means no wind so It’s been a nice change From a bright sun rise to misty like feel .  Moring incoming tides have been the ticket to getting these big fish to eat . My favorite parts tides right now are , the last hour of the outgoing and in the first hour of the incoming. This seems to be when the currents are less strong & these fish are able to see your bait passing by at a much slower rate . I also think when the tides are ripping fast that these fish tend to hunker down on the deep structure, and are less willing to make an effort to chase your bait. So with this said timing is everything!  

I have also been catching some giant Jacks that are mixed amongst the snook. These fish are not structural oriented and are always on the move ,so be ready as fast as they come , they can leave just as fast. When a fish is hooked up It’s always good to throw a handful of baits (chumming) into the water to keep them around feeding . Seatrout have been another target of mine this past week.

We had a big cold front that dropped our gulf temperatures into the upper 50s and this is always a good sign if you enjoy targeting sea trout . One of my go to methods is very simple, it’s a 3/8 ounce jig head with a 3 inch paddle tail & a little bit of pre-cure shrimp sauce for a little extra added flavor. I find working the deeper holes that have a nice rolling current have been producing the most fish.

With trout where you catch one, you will most definitely find more, so make sure to work your fishing area thoroughly! Look for these Northeast winds to keep the gulf gin clear & the good fishing will continue to get better ! See YA on the water!

I wanna start by saying I hope everybody had a great holiday with family and friends. It was one of the coldest Christmas as I can remember which dropped are water temps down into the 50s. Whenever this happens, due to the drastic cold drop , it puts our fishery on lock but thankfully we are back in the 80s and the fishing is back heating up.

The Snook bite in the Naples and Marco island area have just started to pick back up .  I am finding good action still on the outside islands but also deeper in the backcountry. When the gulf temps dropped it pushed allot of fish deeper in the backcountry.  Our morning low tides have pooled up these fish in the deeper holes. I have been using live baits(pilchards) but also DOA 3in paddle tails with 3/8oz jig head and having great success.

Sea trout , jacks , snapper and snook have all been targets using these artificials. As our weather stabilizes ,  Look for this weekend fishing to get better each day . Happy new year and hope to see y'all on the water!!!

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

This past week in Naples and Marco Island have been more of the same great weather, and some fantastic inshore action.  For me it’s always been that first hour or two at sunrise seems to be Magic . I have been hustling offshore to get bait at first light, then doing a quick U-turn, and heading straight for the backcountry.  Snook and monster jacks have been hot on the incoming morning tides. The bigger snook we have been catching have come from the deeper cuts and shorelines.  There’s no real method to catching these big snook,  you Just have to fish tight to the structure and lock down those drags ready for the strike . If you’re into some Jack action make sure you chum heavy with live bait to keep his fish interested. They’re not a fish that likes to sit under the mangroves, but they are constantly on the move looking for the next meal..   Looks like this weekend we will see a drastic drop in temperature due to a strong cold front dropping down from the north. Hope everyone has a great holiday weekend. See yah’ll next week for some fish the salt action!

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

It’s been a steady week of charters in the Naples and Marco island areas and I am very thankful for the great weather we have had. Snook have still been our main target but we have also been catching some monster jacks in the 10-15lb range. To really get these fish going you better have allot of extra bait to chum with as quick as they come, they can leave just as fast.  Not much for  redfish at the moment but I am still catching a few mixed in with the snook and jacks . When the winds lay down and you’re able to get just offshore 5-10 miles around the nearshore wrecks there have been kingfish starting to show up. I love free lining some big baits over top of the structure and let me tell you if you’ve ever seen a king fish skyrocket in mid air with your bait in his mouth it’s a site to see .  Looking at the extended forecast, we will see a cold front coming through tomorrow, which will drop temps & cause are winds to shift out of the north.  Might be a few days of unsettled weather. You can bet to find me deep in the creeks hiding enjoying some of the calm waters are back country has the offer..  tight lines!

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

Absolutely perfect weather equals some outstanding inshore fishing.  This week we have been on some full moon tides which means one thing ,super High tides and really low tides in the morning. I am a huge fan of fishing the lower tides as it pulls the fish from the tree roots and stack them up in the deeper cuts & holes.

It’s important when fishing a shoreline on an extreme low tide, is to take your time, put the nose of your boat into the current and slowly back troll making lots of casts toward the deeper structure. A lot of times you can feel you’re bait getting nervous right before a strike is about to occur.  It’s very important to relax & Let the fish take the bait and swim off before you set the hook. All these bigger snook on the initial run , will head straight for the structure. When this happens, make sure to keep your rod low almost in the water and angled , as to keep the trajectory of the line from hitting any sharp barnacle limbs.

If you can get that fish turned after that initial run, you can then raise your rod tip and fight it like normal with a  pump & reel motion . Don’t be surprised if you think the battle is won and that fish decides, it’s gonna give it one more shot towards the trees. Just repeat process till its energy is exhausted and you are able to control it. Be sure to take very good care not only Landing these big snook but also give it enough time during the release to recuperate some of its lost energy and swim off on its own. This will ensure that that fish survives and will be able to fight another day. Till next week tight lines.!!!!!!!

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

Naples and Marco Island offer some of the best light tackle inshore fishing in the country. We have such a vast fishery with endless opportunities to target our local Gamefish (snook,tarpon,sea trout & redfish). Snook are always top on my hit list and they can be found just about anywhere in the back country and near shore islands . We have been using live Pilchard & threadfin herring that I cast bet every morning. These fresh live baits are the key to an action packed day on the water. Yes you can catch fish on artificial such as jigs ,flies , plugs and soft plastics, but nothing beats the real thing.

We are still catching some smaller redfish and big Jacks that are sprinkled in amongst the snook. Always around this time of year we get a big push of live bait just off our beaches .  With all this activity look for Bonita , sharks and late season tarpon to be around the bait school and birds. Weather looks to be stable this coming week so Look for good fishing to continue. C u on the water!!!!

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

It’s been a finicky inshore bite going on in the Naples and Marco island areas.   When I say finicky, I mean one week it can be red hot and the next week the bite can be off. This is all to do with early-season cold fronts.  One thing to remember ,  It’s always good fishing the week before a cold front , this is due to high pressure and the weather being consistent . Usually the day after a cold front has passed through is when you can see a drop in fishing activity as the weather fluctuates from hot to cold . With this all said we have been having some great snook action. Due to the cooler temps , I am starting to notice fish migrating from the beaches to the middle island and backcountry. We have been catching a lot of small to medium snook but have also been picking through some really nice big females . Live bait is always my favorite way to have great action no matter what time of year it is.  

Due to some windier conditions, I’ve been loading up on bait further offshore on the wrecks . There has been some inshore Jack crevalle action going on . I’ve been finding them on heavier current around deeper fallen structure. Make sure to have that drag set as these fish hit hard and run fast.  Look for this weeks fishing action to increase with an approaching Coldfront due this weekend . One more thing happy Thanksgiving to y’all & hope everybody can enjoy some time with friends and family!!!!! 

The Naples and Marco Island inshore fishing continues to produce some great action. The weather has been perfect with cool starts in the mornings and warming up to the 80s by the afternoons. I’ve been starting my trips at 6:30 to get a jump on morning bite & with outgoing tides its really been helping and getting these fish active. Live bait is just about everywhere and one key indicator is to look for birds diving. 

When getting bait on the beaches , It’s best to throw a quarter 1/4inch net as these baits can be a mix of small and big. If you’re looking for an artificial bite try throwing A skitter walk or Zara spook at first light around points and any sunken structure. Make sure to mix up your retrieve  with some good left to right action (walk the dog) but also it’s good to pause and speed up at times. I am  just trying to pay close  attention to what speed they’re liking for that particular morning and tide .

The snapper bite has really subsided as most have moved offshore but our Jack Crevelle bite has really picked up so be ready for anything as this time of year can be really exciting!!!!!
C u on the water!

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

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

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