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

Naples and Marco island continue to produce some great summertime fishing. The inshore snook bite has been outstanding around the outside points and beaches. During the summer months the gulf waters remain Gin clear and this allows us to have some outstanding site fishing opportunities. I find the best time to sight fish is around 9 o’clock and later   when the sun is just cracking over the trees.

The combination of a little bit of sunshine and a good incoming tide gets our game fish moving around the shoreline looking for an easy meal. We are still getting plenty of bait on the offshore piles, wrecks and beaches. The Beach bait is on the smaller side but it’s perfect if you’re targeting mangrove snapper. I find these pilchards that are about the size of your finger to be the best size bait to get these snappers in a frenzy.  If you end up getting allot of bait remember to chum heavy as this is the key to getting them out of the structure and in the feeding mode.

Catching fish is a huge part of our day but also seeing some of the most beautiful wildlife & scenery that South Florida has to offer. Hope everybody has a great weekend look forward to seeing y’all on the water!

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

June fishing never disappoints.  Warm Gulf waters with light east winds have kept our fishery on fire. Naples and Marco island snook fishing has been really good around the beaches and passes. Theses areas remain consistent all summer as they have the best flow of water and schools of small live bait.  Don’t be surprised while looking for snook if you happen to roll up on a big redfish just slow cruising down the shoreline . When this happen I don’t do anything different ,  just remember to make a good cast 3-5 feet in front of that fish and you may get to watch it smash your live bait !   Big jacks have been chewing good on the high incoming tides around the passes and bridges . I like to chum heavy with live baits to fire them up and then it’s only a matter of time till your drag is screaming !!! Get out early to beat that summer heat .

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

Great inshore summer action going on around the Naples and Marco island areas.   Snook have been on the top of our hit list .  Season is closed for harvesting one but we are not limited on how many we can catch ,& now is the time to catch some giants. There have been some over slots redfish, big jacks mixed in with the action.  With all the afternoons rains , Live bait has been a bit tricky to get on the offshore wrecks but I am still able to load up the live well . The name of the game is putting your baits in the right locations .  This means close to the structure!  I am finding the bigger fish holding on the deeper structure so I really take my time to hit every nook and cranny trying to give them the best look are our baits .  Take your time and don’t be in a hurry as it may take a doz or more cast to get that big strike!! Get out early and beat the heat ! C u on the water <•{{{{><



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

The Summer inshore and backcountry fishing is in full effect in the Naples & Marco island areas .   The mangrove snapper bite has been on fire. I have been concentrating on the rivers and passes with good heavy current flow.  Best to dial back your leaders to 25lb fluorocarbon as they can be very leader shy.  To get these snappers fired up I like chum heavy and then cast a live pilchard Right into the frenzy and hold on !   If your looking for a drag screamer there have been some big jacks cruising around the shallows .   Look for them to be moving around the outside points that have good current on them . Snook are all over the from the backcountry to the beaches feeding on all the small schools of bait .  Morning falling tides have been the best bet for some great summer time action !! C U on the WATER !!

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

The inshore Snook bite remains hot around the Naples and Marco island areas . The action has really picked up around the Passes and outer islands. Pods of small bait are everywhere and that has our game fish on the feed. There has been a solid mangrove snapper bite around the passes. Look for rocky structure (docks , trees , deep shorelines ) and use a live bait to get them fired up .  Remember to down size you tackle to 25lb fluorocarbon and a #1 hook.

If I have plenty of bait I like to live chum heavy to really get them up and moving. Mixed in the action will be some good sized snook and with that light leader it can be challenging to keep them from breaking the leader. Jacks have been crushing baits on the morning incoming tides so chum heavy and look for the water to irrupt.
C u 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

May is finally here and it has the Inshore fishing on fire! I look so forward to this time of year as the winds die off and all of our game fish are moving around looking for eazy meals. The May tarpon immigration is in full effect & starting to see good numbers just off our beaches on the incoming tides.  I prefer a Palm size blue crab free lime just in front of the score of rolling fish wait for your line to come tight and start to real.    Snook have been just about everywhere but I’ve been having most of my success close to the passes & in around the outside islands. I am seeing the first wave of small fry bait showing up on both the incoming and outgoing tides. It’s typical find a lot of Snook ,sea trout, snapper & redfish close to these schools of baitfish.  I’m still using my typical set up which is 40 pound monofilament ,attached to 15 pound braid  with a 2/0 J-hook. The live Baits we see in May are absolutely perfect,  big hearty pilchards and scaled sardines. During some of the slower tide phases it’s best to chum hard to get these lazy fish to fire up. It’s that time of year you wanna be on the water watching that sunrise and looking for rolling tarpon or beating up the trees looking for big snook .  As they say the early bird gets the worm look forward to seeing you on the water!


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

It’s that time of year where all of our game fish (tarpon/sea trout/snook/redfish) are on my hit list. In the Naples and Marco island area, we have snook all over the beaches and passes feeding on the small pods of bait fish. If we see birds (snowy egrets / pelicans) lined up on a shoreline I will always swing in to soak some live baits.

Speaking of live baits the off shore structures (wrecks/rubble piles ) will be holding some nice big baits this time of year.  When it comes to catching your bait Good electronics (simrad/Garmin) are imperative to have , so you are able to  differentiate the structure and the bait that is hovering along side it. There have been some Redfish mixed in with the snook and trout so don’t be surprised to hook into some big boys.

Tarpon are  starting to make their migration down the beaches and passes. I like to use live small blue or pass crabs but if there in the deeper holes my favorite is a slimy catfish chunk or mullet.  Look for out weather to stabilize and the fishing to get better and better. My favorite time of the year is now. See you on the water ! 

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