Topwater Rules Once Again! Mosquito Lagoon Fishing Report 6-19-2023

Launched out of Beacon 42 this morning and quickly found aggressive fish willing to blast topwater lures! There were far too many blow-ups to include them all, but it was a lot of fun and nearly all the redfish and trout were quality fish, not runts. Had some trouble later on getting interest from soft plastics, but the water was clear and there was grass everywhere, so it made for a really great day!

[@trevorwells9708]

Been following you for a while and I gotta say I’m so grateful to see the grass rebounding. I drove down biolab the other day and couldn’t believe my eyes at the growth. Seeing you catch all these fish is reassuring! I gave up fishing mosquito a while ago but am gonna have to get me another Gheenoe soon and get out there!!

[@JeffHammerFishing]

Thank you Trevor! Yes, I am beyond thrilled to see this level of recovery happening. If it continues, then it's likely the populations of resident fish may begin to recover and return as well. We've got a long way to go in that respect, but I have more and more hope with every trip.

[@yuriyilin6381]

Good video. I like Mosquito Lagoon.👍

[@JeffHammerFishing]

Thank you!

[@Hicatchfish66]

It was nice to meet you at the ramp. I went east and also was amazed to see the amount of grass since I last fished the lagoon back in May. Unfortunately, we did not see many fish and ended up getting skunked. But that’s how it goes sometimes.

[@JeffHammerFishing]

Yes, nice speaking with you too. Sorry the lagoon didn't cooperate, but there's always next time.

[@GetUrFishOn]

I haven't seen grass like that in years. Awesome job.

[@JeffHammerFishing]

Thanks Steve! Yes, it is great to see some recovery happening.

[@davidbeunier3860]

Stopped for lunch and caught Jeff catching fish. Nothing goes better than chic- filet and Hammer time

[@JeffHammerFishing]

🤣 Well thank you! Glad you enjoy the videos!

[@jpearson1725]

You inspired me, I went out last weekend and fished the cucumber island area. There was some grass around the area I was pleasantly surprised! caught a few trout and a couple of reds. Best outing there in years, I might start going back more often now.

[@JeffHammerFishing]

Nice! Cucumber is on my list to visit soon. Were it not for the westerly winds on Monday, I'd have headed down there instead. Glad you did well!

[@dafishmantn]

All I can say is I’m excited. This is a report to raise my spirits for a trip I’ll take Friday to the beacon, which I haven’t been to for over a year. Several reasons for that but I’ll be there. I spent a lot of time there in ‘20 when things were kinda tough and did well. Made a lot of trips across Maytown road back then. The bluegill on two pound line is smokin hot on the St Johns but I can hear the lagoon calling, and I have to go. Wish me luck. Maybe I’ll take my new go pro and start my channel back up. Thanks for the good report Jeff, I always enjoy them. So many reports are totally sponsored and I feel they’re unreliable. You’re the other side of the coin and I thank you for that. I’d love to share my boat with you for some stud gills, maybe that will happen one day. Til next time…….Tim.

[@JeffHammerFishing]

You're welcome and good luck. The lagoon is good, but it isn't easy like it was years ago. It takes some work or luck these days.

[@dafishmantn]

Friday was one 16” and one 20” trout and the biggest, meanest looking wall cloud came south and ran me off by 8. Saw lots of fish and figured out a pattern but the weather rules. I’ll get em next time. Got some GoPro video to work my way though also.

[@JeffHammerFishing]

Glad to hear it! The weather has not been kind lately. I was planning to do some bass fishing yesterday, but as soon as I started getting ready the sky started leaking in full sunlight. Then 20 minutes later the thunder put an end to my plans. Hopefully the upcoming weekend will be better. I'll be headed to the mountains to do some trout fishing the following week, so we'll see if I get any video worth sharing.

[@mikemcgovern8719]

Good job Jeff. I haven’t been out lately, been in the hospital for some prostate issues. I think they are pressured enough these days that when you see them they see you and aren’t going to cooperate very much.

[@JeffHammerFishing]

True on this day for sure. I think the recent weather should have kept the pressure off of them a bit, but they played hard to get anyway. Hope you're alright and out of the hospital.

[@mikemcgovern8719]

It appears you were fishing pretty far off the shoreline. Do you have luck in the open bay areas? I usually fish right along the shoreline.

[@JeffHammerFishing]

There isn't a right or wrong answer on where to fish, Mike. Before I saw that first school, you might notice I was on course for the shoreline. I tend to do the same as you because shorelines are a natural barrier that reduces the direction fish can be in by 50%. However, after seeing that school and then subsequent fish farther out, there was a clear pattern, which I adapted to. If you stick to a preset plan regardless of empirical evidence to the contrary, you probably won't get the results you were hoping for. So, after a long explanation, the short answer is yes, I sometimes do well in open water when the situation calls for it.

[@njsurfrider]

I was at beacon 42 on the 19th in my Gheenoe as well. I went East thinking that the wind would drive bait and what not to the wind blown shorelines. I got skunked. Which is really a bummer since it was my first time fishing Mosquito Lagoon. It looks like you stayed on the western shore. Is that correct?

[@JeffHammerFishing]

You are correct. My reasons aren't quite as strategic as yours were though. The south half of the lagoon is big, open water, so wind isn't your friend, especially in a Gheenoe. Unless I have strong reasons to do otherwise, I tend to fish the more leeward side of the lagoon based solely on wind direction that day.