/310x340/users/409db2b8-d939-4f8c-aae5-6005566e1278/images/snook-fish-naples-florida-2679.jpg)
/310x340/users/409db2b8-d939-4f8c-aae5-6005566e1278/images/snook-fish-florida-2863.jpg)
/310x340/users/409db2b8-d939-4f8c-aae5-6005566e1278/images/fishing-success-naples-3112.jpg)
/310x340/users/409db2b8-d939-4f8c-aae5-6005566e1278/profile/632c876c-5929-4091-8ec5-677396c388dc.jpg)
Tim Daugherty
Turn your Marco Island vacation into an unforgettable adventure with Fish the Salt Guide Service, your local experts in world-class inshore fishing. With a lifelong passion for fishing the pristine backwaters and mangroves of Marco Island, our captain has turned that passion into a full-time guiding career, delivering personalized trips that cater to anglers of all experience levels. Whether it’s your first time casting a line or you’re a seasoned angler seeking trophy fish, our trips are designed to create memories that last a lifetime.
Our inshore fishing trips showcase the best of Marco Island’s unique ecosystem, where crystal-clear waters, winding mangroves, and abundant wildlife set the stage for an extraordinary day on the water. Guests often remember their first trophy catch, the thrill of landing a tarpon, snook, or redfish, and the sheer excitement of being immersed in this beautiful, productive environment. Every trip is tailored to your goals, whether you’re after high-action light tackle fishing or a relaxed, scenic day exploring the local waters.
We offer half-day, three-quarter-day, and full-day trips, ensuring flexibility for families, couples, or solo anglers. Our trips are fully private, allowing you to focus on your fishing experience without distractions, and we provide all the gear, knowledge, and insider tips you need to succeed. Spring and early summer are peak season, thanks to the prime inshore action and abundance of tarpon, but fall and winter trips offer cooler weather, fewer crowds, and excellent fishing year-round.
In addition to fishing, we cater to families and beginners with short “first catch” trips, eco tours, and wildlife-focused excursions, making it easy for everyone to enjoy Marco Island’s stunning waters. From customizing your itinerary to sharing local insight about fish behavior and hotspots, our approach emphasizes hospitality, safety, and a genuine love of the sport.
Whether you’re chasing trophy fish, learning the ropes for the first time, or simply looking to soak in the natural beauty of Marco Island, Fish the Salt Guide Service delivers a fishing adventure you won’t forget. Book your trip today and experience the perfect combination of expert guidance, exciting action, and the unmatched charm of Marco Island’s inshore waters.
What's Included
Your Guide has some important details about your trip with them.
Show More
When you book your fishing trip, you will need to first put down a deposit to hold the reservation.
Show More
What's Included
Your Guide has some important details about your trip with them.
Show More
When you book your fishing trip, you will need to first put down a deposit to hold the reservation.
Show More
Step into Southwest Florida’s inshore fishing paradise with Captain Tim, based in Marco Island and Naples. Enjoy all-inclusive light tackle and fly fishing trips through mangrove tunnels, grass flats, and hidden backcountry waters. Target snook, redfish, trout, tarpon, and more while fishing from a fully outfitted skiff with top-tier gear, live bait, and artificial lures. Perfect for beginners and seasoned anglers alike, trips include licenses, tackle, water, and ice. Bring your sense of adventure and capture unforgettable memories on the water.
Pick Your Date
Enjoy an extended half-day fishing adventure in the pristine waters of Naples and Marco Island with Captain Tim. This 6-hour private trip takes you through mangroves, grass flats, and hidden coves while targeting trout, redfish, snook, tarpon, and crevalle jack. Fish from a fully equipped Pathfinder skiff with top-tier tackle, live bait, and expert guidance. Perfect for beginners and seasoned anglers alike, this all-inclusive experience provides licenses, gear, and a tailored approach to ensure an unforgettable day on Southwest Florida’s backwaters.
Pick Your Date
Spend a full day exploring the backwaters of Naples and Marco Island with Captain Tim on this 8-hour guided inshore fishing adventure. Target trout, redfish, snook, tarpon, and crevalle jack while navigating mangroves, grass flats, and hidden coves. Fish from a fully equipped Pathfinder skiff with top-tier tackle, live bait, and expert guidance. Perfect for anglers of all skill levels, this private trip includes all gear, licenses, and a tailored experience. Bring your sense of adventure and create unforgettable memories on Southwest Florida’s waters.
Pick Your Date
Challenge your skills on this 8-hour private inshore fishing trip in Naples and Marco Island with Captain Tim. Target trout, redfish, snook, tarpon, and crevalle jack while navigating mangroves, grass flats, and hidden backcountry waters. Fish from a fully equipped Pathfinder skiff with premium tackle, live bait, GPS, and a trolling motor for precise angling. Designed for experienced anglers, this all-inclusive trip includes gear, licenses, and expert guidance, allowing pros to focus on technique, strategy, and landing trophy fish in the heart of Southwest Florida’s inshore paradise.
Pick Your Date
Spend a full day exploring Naples and Marco Island’s backwaters on this beginner-friendly 8-hour trip with Captain Tim. Perfect for first-time anglers, you’ll target trout, redfish, snook, tarpon, and crevalle jack while navigating mangroves, grass flats, and hidden coves. Fish from a fully equipped Pathfinder skiff with top-tier tackle, live bait, and expert instruction. This all-inclusive private trip provides gear, licenses, and personalized guidance, ensuring beginners gain confidence and create unforgettable memories on Southwest Florida’s beautiful inshore waters.
Pick Your Date
Pathfinder
Boat Type:
Boat Guest Capacity:
4
Boat Length:
22 ft
Manufacturer Name:
Pathfinder
Model Year:
2002
Engine Manufacturer Name:
Yamaha
# of Engines:
1
Horsepower Per Engine:
200
Maximum Cruising Speed:
32
Features: Bait Tank Trolling Motor GPS
/fit-in/340x340/users/409db2b8-d939-4f8c-aae5-6005566e1278/vehicle_picture/boat-mj9f0yia.jpg)
Set out on Marco Island waters aboard this 22-ft Pathfinder motorboat. Equipped with a 200 HP Yamaha engine, livewell tank, GPS, and trolling motor, it reaches 32 mph and features a fighting chair and snorkeling gear—ideal for family fun or serious inshore fishing adventures.
/fit-in/260x260/users/409db2b8-d939-4f8c-aae5-6005566e1278/vehicle_picture/boat-mj9f0yia.jpg)
Pathfinder
Boat Type:
Boat Guest Capacity:
4
Boat Length:
22 ft
Vehicle Details
/filters:strip_exif()/users/409db2b8-d939-4f8c-aae5-6005566e1278/images/740355fe-f30f-48e4-8153-5473b29cb1a8.jpg)
Winter is in full swing here in Southwest Florida, and last week we saw some of the coldest mornings of the season with temperatures dropping into the low 40s. When these strong cold fronts move through, our gulf water temperatures drop quickly, and that triggers a noticeable shift in fish behavior. As conditions cool, many inshore species begin sliding out of the shallows and heading for deeper, more stable water where temperatures fluctuate less. This is a very predictable winter pattern and one we rely on heavily while running Naples fishing charters and Marco Island fishing charters. Anytime a cold front pushes through, my game plan is simple: head deeper and deeper into the backcountry, especially during low water. These fish stack up in deeper holes, troughs, and along protected shorelines where they can conserve energy and stay comfortable. Right now, we’re finding solid numbers of snook, sea trout, pompano, jack crevalle, mangrove snapper, and redfish tucked in tight to the deeper shorelines throughout the backcountry. This style of Naples back country fishing is extremely productive during winter and a staple of our Naples, Florida fishing trips. The timing couldn’t be better with a full moon approaching. Full moon phases bring extreme tidal swings, giving us very low lows and very high highs. These big tides help position fish even tighter to structure and depth changes, making them easier to target if you’re in the right areas. Early morning fishing around these tides has been especially productive, and it’s a great time for anglers booking Naples fishing guides and Marco Island fishing guides to experience some quality action. When it comes to lures, winter fishing is all about slowing things down. My go-to setup has been a 3/8-ounce jig head paired with an NLBN 3-inch paddle tail or a 3-inch shrimp pattern. These jigs excel when water temperatures plummet because fish are holding closer to the bottom and are less willing to chase fast-moving baits. A slower, more deliberate presentation keeps the lure in the strike zone longer and makes it far more appetizing for cold-water fish like Naples snook fishing targets and wintertime sea trout. This approach has been producing consistent bites on snook fishing Marco Island, along with quality redfish for anglers interested in Marco Island red fishing Naples. We’re also seeing surprise hookups with pompano and jacks mixed in, adding variety to each trip. Whether you’re casting jigs, working deeper edges, or even trying Marco Island fly fishing on calmer days, the winter bite has been strong for those willing to adjust to the conditions. Overall, winter fishing offers some of the most reliable backcountry action of the year. From early morning fishing sessions to full-day trips chasing snook, trout, and redfish, this is a prime season to explore the deeper waters. While most people think of spring and summer for species like Marco Island tarpon fishing, winter delivers its own rewards with less pressure and concentrated fish. If you’re looking to experience the best of Naples fishing charters and Marco Island fishing Naples, now is an excellent time to get on the water.
/filters:strip_exif()/users/409db2b8-d939-4f8c-aae5-6005566e1278/images/b2890075-bdb5-418d-a691-3ca44b4b505b.jpg)
Southwest Florida continues to deliver outstanding days on the water, and this week’s Naples Fishing Charters and Marco Island Fishing Charters have been no exception. Cooler water temperatures have pushed plenty of snook to the inside around the Middle Islands, but some of the best Snook Fishing in Naples is happening deeper in the backcountry. These conditions are ideal for anglers looking to experience classic Naples Florida Fishing, where winter patterns gather fish tight to structure and deeper shorelines.As we push farther back, we’re finding strong numbers of good-sized jacks, consistent sea trout action, and some impressive mangrove snappers along deeper cuts. The sea trout bite has really come alive with the recent temperature drop, making for excellent days for both live-bait anglers and artificial enthusiasts. For those booking Inshore Fishing Charters around Naples or Marco Island Fishing Guides, these backcountry zones are providing steady rod-bending action across the tide cycles.Live bait has been highly productive, especially when paired with a popping cork for trout. My personal go-to setup for artificial work has been a 3⁄8-ounce jig head matched with a 4-inch DOA paddle tail. This style of jig fishing shines in the cooler months as fish hold closer to the bottom, and it continues to be one of the most reliable approaches for wintertime Naples Snook Fishing and chasing sea trout. Anyone fishing with local Naples Fishing Guides or Marco Island Fishing Guides right now will find that adapting to this seasonal pattern pays off quickly.Fly anglers are also having excellent success, especially deep in the backcountry on falling tides. We’re catching plenty of medium-sized snook on weighted patterns, and using a Clouser to get the fly down has produced some surprisingly nice trout. It’s a great time for those interested in the sight-fishing opportunities that Snook Fishing in Marco Island, Red Fishing in Naples can provide as the conditions shift toward more stable winter patterns.With next week’s forecast showing stable weather and slightly rising temperatures, expect the fishing to continue improving. As the water warms just a touch and the weather steadies, look for the action to pick up even more across the backcountry. Whether you’re exploring the shallows, drifting deeper channels, or hunting snook in tucked-away creeks, this is shaping up to be a prime stretch for all types of Southwest Florida Fishing Charters.