Right back at another solid week of inshore fishing around the Naples and Marco island areas.  The mangrove snapper bite has been on fire . This weeks morning low tides are a great way to target these fish deep in the backcountry.  The trick to getting these fish going crazy is to chum and chum heavy . I have found the bigger snappers will hold tight to the shorelines , so a well placed cast and a frisky live bait is what will draw them out hiding .  Snook have been just about everywhere as they seem to loves these high gulf temps.

If artificials are your weapon of choice, nothing beats a Zara spook at first light.  With these baits it’s all about covering water and enjoying to explosion on your bait.  I’ve also been seeing some juvenile tarpon in the backcountry around the creek mouths.  If you’re looking for a fish that will not only pull hard, but Leap straight out of the water and put your tackle to the test , you gotta get some of this tarpon action. I don’t see any weather in the forecast that will disturb our fishery, so look for next week to be much of the same. Remember to get up early and beat the heat. See you on the water!!!

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

It’s been a mixed bag of fun fishing around Naples and Marco island .  One of my favorite things about fishing inshore is most of these fish hang out together.  With that said, it makes it exciting never knowing what you’re going to catch on any given cast.  We are in the heat of the summer now and I am seeing big schools of snook on the outside points and up and down the beaches.  It’s common to catch 20 to 30 snook in the morning trip and mix in a ton of mangrove snappers & Jack’s and you will be worn out ready for an afternoon dip in the pool.  I know I say it a lot but the morning summer time bite is where it’s at. 

It’s best to be out on the water super early ,with the sun just coming up and casting live baits or top water plugs around fallen structure .  This is the witching hour where I find the most action.  Later on in the morning , I will switch gears and turn on my “site” fishing game. With the sun higher up in the sky, it’s much easier to spot these cruising fish.

There’s also been some nice redfish, mixed in on the higher income in Tides.  We are concentrating on the pockets and little openings in the mangrove roots where you are able to present your bait deep in the bushes. These red fish are cruising underneath the structure, so a well placed cast will ensure your odds go up. The weather outlook this week is more of the same hot and humid but what a great time to get out on the water and get after it !!!!!! See you guys on the water !



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

This time of year the Naples and Marco islands inshore fishing never disappoints. Not only do we have great year-round fishing, but we have some of the best wildlife & marine life in the country. It’s common place to have dolphins close to the boat all day and seeing the diversity of bird life is always a bonus.

Ok back to fishing …. The Snook fishing continues to take precedence as we are seeing and catching big number of fish on a daily basis.  Our gulf waters this time of year are gin clear and this opens up a huge door for site fishing opportunities on the beaches.  I’m starting to see big numbers of fish schooling up in about a foot of water. My favorite way to target these fish is to stay about 30 yards off the school and cast live baits to cruising fish.

Just make sure you lead these fish by 5 feet or so let the fish swim up to your bait and watch them fight over it. The mangrove snapper fishing is always on point this time of year. We catch our limits just about every day and what a great fish to take home for the grill.  We are in a very hot and humid summer pattern so with that said, I find the best action the first few hours of the morning when the sun is low and temps are not blazing hot. Remember get up early and get it while to get “N” is good. See ya on the water !!!!   


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

Summer action is heating up!! Snook have been all over the Naples and Marco island areas.  I have been finding them on the beaches and in the back country.   In the morning if you happen to see a shoreline that has multiple birds (egrets , herons, skimmers) standing on the waters edge , make sure to stop and fish it .  This just means that the bait fish are piled up , which will concentrate the game fish. 

If you’re looking to throw bigger live bait your best bet is the head offshore to the rocks piles or wrecks. Smaller baits school up on the beaches but tend to be much smaller in size . There’re very plentiful & it’s a great size for mangrove snapper fishing .  If you enjoy fish taco night, then you cannot beat a pile of mangrove snapper for supper !! I use Vigo breadcrumbs mixed with Everglades seafood rub and finally diced up coconut, dip fillets into an egg wash and pan fried in coconut oil and butter.  Yummmmmmmy!

We have have been catching some redfish on the higher incoming tides, fishing tight to the bushes. There has also been plenty of Jack action to keep you busy while jumping from spot to spot. Summer heat now in full swing so make sure to get up early & Get it while the getting is good. C u you on the water !

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

Summer fishing is in full swing with snook , red fish & tarpon being our main targets.  Snook are still plentiful in the Naples and Marco island areas and a great way to target them is with light tackle gear .   I like a Medium (nothing smaller ) 7ft rod(star rods)  with a 4000 spinning reel(Florida fishing products osprey) spooled up with 15lb power pro.  This combo is way to much fun when fishing inshore and in the backcountry.  When picking a braid color I prefer bright colors (white is my fav) that way I and my anglers can see where our lines are at during these sunny Florida days .   I am still finding some juvenile tarpon deep in the backcountry but conditions have to just rt .

They seem to get hungry on these light wind days on a hard falling tide.  I look for rolling fish and slowly approach them up wind as not to spook them . Wait for one to roll in casting distance and fire a live bait over to its last known location and wait for the water to erupt .   The mangrove snapper bite is picking up the deeper into the summer we go . When targeting snapper ,  I do prefer smaller live baits(finger size ) as they seem to inhale the whole bait instead of just picking at the bigger ones .  This weeks weather is looking prime for some great inshore action .  C U on the water !!!!!


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

Naples and Marco islands Inshore fishing continues to produce some great drag pulling action. All week we have had strong income in Tides, and this has really concentrated the fish along the deeper shorelines. This is the time of year we’ll see schools of small bait fish(pilchards/ scaled sardines/threadfin herring) along the beaches and passes.

When I see these schools of small bait fish getting pushed down the shorelines, it to me looks like a bait fish Buffet. This is where I’ve been concentrating my efforts as these fish are in the staging modes , just waiting for bait fish to get pushed right to them.

If you’re looking for larger live bait you have head to the offshore wrecks and rubble piles. A 10ft 3/8in mesh cast net will be just perfect in getting you a live well full of hardy pilchards.  Snook have been in Big schools on the outside points & Beaches with jacks and mangrove snapper mixed in.

have been catching some juvenile tarpon deep in the back country & on light tackle it’s an absolute blast .  I am using the same Riggs as I use for snook,  15lb braid attached is a 30lb fluorocarbon leader with a 3/0 J-hook.   It’s great to be able to catch all these different species on any given day.  We’re starting to get into the summer rain pattern so it’s best to get up early & Beat the heat and also beat the afternoon thunder storms. Hope to see y’all on the water.  Tight lines !!!!!

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

I’m always so fired up to fish this time of the year ,as we have endless opportunities on any given day.  It’s been another solid week of inshore fishing around Naples and the Marco island area. I’ve been seeing some redfish activity on the higher incoming tides. I have been concentrating on shorelines close to the rivers that have good strong current flow.

What’s been working good for us ,is taking our time and really working the shoreline. This just means getting your cast into the shady pockets and around the fallen structure and really giving your bait time to draw out any big fish that may be laying in the deep cover.

Typically after a cast your bait isn’t gonna want to stay in there,  so if it decides to swim out, you reel up and cast it right back in always making sure to give your live bait enough soak time in the strike zone .  We are still seeing some great snook and jack activity on the outside points.  My favorite way to fish these shorelines are the point my bow into the current and deploy my trolling motor that way I’m able to slow my drift and keep my baits in the strike zone longer. I urge everybody to get out on the water and get it while the getting is good. C u you out there !!!!!

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

May fishing never disappoints, Gin clear water & light winds have our inshore fishing on fire . 
If you’re looking for bigger quality fish and lots of action this is the month to be on the water. We can be targeting snook, but also have redfish,seatrout, goliath grouper, mangrove snapper & jack crevalle all in the mix. This type of light tackle fishing is very exciting as you never know what you’re gonna get on any given cast. Live bait has been plentiful on the offshore racks and rubble piles.  I use a 3/8in 10-12ft cast net( lee fisher)  works great for offshore bait catching and sometimes, if you’re lucky you can get it done in one throw.

For my fly fishing in Anglers I have been concentrating on fishing the beaches, looking for snook, cruising the shallows. A will placed cast , one to 2 feet in front of the fish’s cone of vision will insure get you a hard strike . Don’t forget to keep your head on a swivel and to be looking Out towards the deeper water as a Tarpon will be rolling on by. Weather looks to be fantastic the rest of the week. Hope all of y’all can get out on the water & Enjoy some of this great Southwest Florida fishing action.

Another action packed week of fishing around the Naples and Marco island area.   These areas have such a diverse ecosystem that’s allows us to not only see some amazing wildlife(birds, dolphins, manatees) but catch a variety of inshore species(sea trout , snook , tarpon , redfish , pompano , snapper , sharks , jacks ).  I am still catching some big snook in the the passes and cuts close to the beaches . These fish have been staging up to feast on the piles of a fish that are getting swept in with the tides.

Sea trout have been chew N good on the outside points & when targeting them were not doing anything special but a 30lb leader to a 3/0 j hook and of course a “big pilchard”.    We are getting close to a full moon so we have been seeing some really low tides in the mornings. I like these tides as it can really stack the fish up on some of the deeper structure points.

Remember to take your time and keep those live baits close to the structure as to draw out the big girls . Tarpon have been around but due yo our inconsistency of weather/winds it’s been hard to really get on them . Just have to be patient and wait for those east winds to settle back in and the sight fishing game will be back ON !!!  C u y’all on on the water !!  

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

April has been action packed with snook , tarpon , redfish and sea trout in abundance . Naples and Marco Island inshore fishing always fires at this time of year & we have been taking full advantage of it.  Live bait (pilchards )have been prevalent along the beaches, and the near shore wrecks.

Once my live well is packed I make a turn and head rt back inshore. Look for fish to really start schooling up along the beaches and passes.  This is due to all the small baitfish that are getting pushed in and out all day with the tides, it’s the backcountry Buffett .  Gulf water are gin clear so make sure when working a shoreline to keep your eyes glued to the shallows looking for a slow cruising fish.

Try not to present your bait right on top of the fish but see which way he is pointed and lead the fish by 2 to 3 feet.  There are also some big Jacks and sea trout mixed in so be ready for that bait to get hammered and that drag to sing .  Now that our winds have been tapering off look for tarpon rolling just off our beaches and passes.

Can’t beat a free-lined live crab but a big pilchard or thredfin herring will most definitely get some attention.   It’s that time of year guys get out on the water and enjoy some great South Florida fishing action!!!!!!! C you on the water !

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