Just a few shared adventures from a lifelong angler, mostly in Mosquito Lagoon and the North Indian River with the occasional freshwater outing, road trip, product test or fishing tip thrown in.
Although I primarily target redfish and trout, other species such as tarpon, snook, flounder, black drum, largemouth bass, shad, striper and crappie are often also on my list. I enjoy fishing with both conventional gear as well as a fly rod. And for the record, I’m just a regular guy who loves to fish. I’m not a guide and I don’t make any money for doing these videos. I do it because it’s fun and spending time editing video actually prolongs the enjoyment of a good day on the water.
Now I’m not one to go begging for subscriptions. I’m not even sure why that’s important, but people tell me it is and I should, so if you feel like subscribing do it and thanks for watching.
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Here's the sad part someone shared with me and I did a little digging and confirmed......all the lenses for the big companies start off at one of 2 locations. All these lenses come from the same place. Yuck. Bajio gets the same lenses that all the luxottica brands get. I wish I didn't know that now.
That's disappointing. Guess it's the same as flourocarbon lines. Same product, different label.
@JeffHammerFishing it sucked hearing it but I regret researching. Ignorance was Bliss.
Is this Jeff Hammer or Mike Iconelli with all those bleeps?! No but seriously great video. Also I have a question for you, how many HP is your motor and do you know how fast your boat can go with 2 or 3 people on board? The reason I ask, I’m over in Titusville area and fish from a kayak but I’m planning to buy either a small flats skiff or a Gheenoe LT25, or something else in the same size class as yours. I’ll mainly be fishing solo but want something that’s big enough I can take one or two family/friends out occasionally. I want to get something small, lightweight, and don’t need something with a huge high powered motor but also don’t want something too small that’ll feel bogged down if I bring a couple guests occasionally
LOL! Some of those bleeps were added just for dramatic effect. They weren't actually covering any swearing. Ha! So, my outboard is a 25hp, but I did the 30hp upgrade to it. The fastest I've ever gone it in by myself is 34mph, but it depends on the prop I'm running. With that 34mph prop and two people, I can hit 32mph sometimes. The prop I use most of the time is a bit slower but has better hole shot. It'll top out around 31 by myself and maybe 28-29 with two people.
@@JeffHammerFishing thanks for the info. I appreciate it!
Which mountain range are you heading to Jeff?
North Georgia, Appalachian Mountains
I think that ripple, light wind, on the water helps with reds not sensing you being there. BTW i think I probably ran into the same tarpon you saw, I was in the same area, I spotted him and made a poor cast, the line went across him and he shot off like a rocket, I think he had as much wake as my boat, hahaha.
Beautiful red! Fish like that make my day too!
Fished Monday from Widgeon south to Turtle Pen. We saw at least 50-60 tailing fish and had multiple shots we managed to get 4 to the boat. Water was super low, lots of grass and crystal clear water.
How is the water level ? I’m contemplating poking around some old spots tomorrow
Low! I've seen worse, but much lower than it's been, that's for sure.
I feel your pain Jeff, I went on on the 5th in the south end of the lagoon, caught a couple then by 9am the bite went cold. Tons of finger mullet and I found myself in the middle of one of the largest schools of reds I have seen in some time (probably 100+ reds) but they would not touch anything we presented paddle tails or topwater not interested in any of it. ughhh
Exactly, just completely shut down after 2 hours or so. Not even the cut ladyfish helped.
The reds live live shrimp same with the black drum
Great video Jeff, that tarpon spook was awesome. I live in the middle of the state around the Harris chain of lakes, so Mosquito Lagoon/New Symrna area is where I'll get my saltwater fix. I have a 17' Action Craft that drafts around 9-12in depending on load. What areas of the lagoon (north/south) would you say will be the most fishable for me depth wise?
Well you can fish most of the southern half, it's deeper all through the middle until you get close to the islands and shorelines on each side. Even a lot of the outer pole and troll would be accessible. As for the north, most places along east channel, shotgun, slippery and so forth. You'll just have to venture in among the islands and see how far you can get. Plenty of water as long as you're careful and don't get out of the channels on plane until you know your way a bit.
@@JeffHammerFishing thanks for the tips. I went yesterday out of Edgewater on the north end (wife wanted to check out the sandbars) and we were quickly humbled by the tides. Had to walk the boat through a couple areas to get back into Brown’s Bay and surrounding areas but was able to idle out after the tide came up. It’s my understanding that the southern part of the lagoon has less tide movement, so will definitely explore down that way on days dedicated to fishing and not beach/sand bar.
That Tarpon was awesome! Sad to see two BIG bulls DOA like that.....
Yeah, I know it was due to mishandling too. Those two were near enough to each other that they probably came from the same boat.
Hey, I fish the exact same areas and for the last 2-3 weeks it’s been a nightmare to catch redfish. Compared to last year in the summer when I was catching 10-15 reds now I’m happy if o catch 3. They are super spooky, even when I cast 20ft ahead of them they still turn and go in the other direction, I throw everything in my tackle even gulp and they don’t want anything. Any input on what’s happening this summer? It’s tough
In my own meaningless opinion, I think a lot of it is related to water clarity and the lack of grass. Last summer and for a few years before, water clarity was terrible, so the fish (and us) couldn't see as well so they felt less threatened. This year we've got clearer water so the fish feel exposed and vulnerable. They can see us and other threats much better and there still isn't enough grass recovery for them to find much cover and protection. So, I think they're just hyper-aware of everything around them as a result.
@@JeffHammerFishing i noticed that and i also noticed compared to last year and year before the water level is crazy low areas I was fishing with 3-4 feet are in inches of water and making it impossible even for my kayak to get through
@@elioavila8456 I don't think water levels are necessarily an annual thing. The lagoon is tidal, despite what many believe, and it ebbs and flows slowly. Give it a few weeks or a month, and I bet it'll be very different than it is right now.
2 dead reds, sinful, so called fishermen not reviving them well enough in the heated water. They’re under enough stress already.
Exactly what I was thinking. They were both within the same area, close enough they could have drifted from the same boat.
Still looks like a fun morning. You always seem to find some good fish! That one ladyfish seemed to inhale that topwater before it even reached the water!
That was the first cast too! I wasn't sure it was ladyfish until I got one on the hooks though.
WHY boat flip everything like you're in the Bassmaster Classic? Not good for the fish in an already threatened fishery in the IRL/ML.
I've answered this question before. I don't swing every fish, just the smaller ones. For anything larger I use a rubber mesh landing net. You'll rarely ever see me landing fish with my hands. That's because the worst thing you can do is grab fish with you hands, especially dry hands. You'll notice I don't "flip" fish. I set them down (except that one ladyfish which I said I was planning to keep). You'll also notice I walk around right over the same spots where the fish were just laying on the deck. That's because there is absolutely no slime loss that way. Even when I release them by grabbing the tail, I still get some slime transfer. Sticking your fingers in the gills is even worse, but I see people doing that all the time. You just can't do it safely with your hands, and this I've learned from decades of personal experience, not from some nonsense I've seen on TV or saw online. Best way to avoid harming the fish it to use a rubber net, which won't remove any slime (no fabric or mono netting please). The second best way is use grips, but you have to know how to use them safely or you can damage the fish with those too. And third, placing them on a fiberglass or gelcoat deck. If you have something like Seadeck or a course non-skid, then this won't work. Yes, they might thrash around a bit, but they don't lose any of their slime layer and they're in much better condition than handling them.
@@JeffHammerFishinggood stuff dude
What is your favorite month to fish the lagoon?
Probably December or January. Water has had time to really clear up, temperatures are cool and when the wind isn't howling it makes for perfect days.
Thanks, as always, for posting. I'm considering a gheenoe lt25, similar to yours. Would you buy one again, or maybe a small skiff instead? If you don't mind me asking. If so, would you configure it the same?
100% I'd buy another LT25. Honestly, I could have just about any skiff I wanted but I choose to run the LT25 . There aren't too many capable skiffs that will fit in the garage along with 2 full size SUVs and a riding mower. That's a big plus for me. I'd probably do the exact same setup again too. The only things I dislike about it is that the console is a little too short to stand behind while driving without hunching, but they make a taller side console now. The other thing I'm not a fan of is that it doesn't handle big chop and swells that well. It can be a wet ride when it's rough. I've learned how to minimize that, but it takes practice and it's still not ideal.
@@JeffHammerFishing I fish the south side of ML and north IRL mostly. It seems that most people around here believe it is the best boat for the area, but "pick your days" is the theme. I know you almost exclusively fish ML, so maybe no large boat wakes there. Have you ever had any days where you were glad to have a bilge pump on board?
No large boat wakes? That's funny...this clip is from the same day and they aren't even "big" boats and this isn't even a particularly rough day. kzread.info/dash/bejne/ep6Yx7aSkq_NcrQ.html
@@JeffHammerFishing I stand corrected. My little kayak doesn't go out that far. I see there could be some challenges.
I guess that’s why I often see bass fisherman using the drop lure technique to avoid those Lilly pad problems…not to change the subject but I just returned from SC fishing for flood tide reds. What an incredible experience sight fishing tails in the spartina grass.
Oh, that's fun stuff! You can do that in Florida too, basically from Palm Valley north along the ICW. During the right time of year we get those flood tides and the reds get up into the shallow spartina just like SC. I've done it a number of times with the fly rod. Too bad I didn't make videos back then though.
You’re not in the Lagoon?! This is heresy!!!
Haha! I know, right?
Most Gheenoe owners have their roots in canoe and kayak fishing ;-)
There's truth to that.
A bit of a productive day :)
It was fun and it's nice to mix it up sometimes.
That's a beautiful little lake and a super fun morning! I've lost the battle to many bass in the lilly pads. They leave me with nothing to find but a hook buried in a stem.
Yup! Give them any chance to dive deep and you almost never pull them out.
Awesome day Jeff! Your'e are making those windy days look like way more fun than they are. Then again if I caught all those fish I might not have even noticed the wind.
Oh I noticed, believe me, but yeah it ended up being fun anyway. Thanks Robert!
Always good to see and hear how a Pro does it. Thanks
👍
Nice job getting a slam!
Thank you!
You may have been complaining about the wind and apologizing about audio but I definitely heard the “POP!” when that first trout hit your topwater. I’d say your audio quality’s pretty good despite the wind
Audio came out better than I thought it would, but it also depends on which sound source I use for the video. Some of the mics were completely overwhelmed by the wind.
This was fun to watch. You were up in my neck of the woods... or at least it used to be. I lived in Tallahassee most of my life and have fished those flats a ton. We launched at the lighthouse ramp a bunch, because as you saw... that's a long run down the river. The oyster bars at the mouth of the river and in the tidal creeks tends to be much better for reds and then out drifting the grass flats is better for trout. I'm gonna be in your home waters quite a bit soon. I'm moving to the area close to Boston Whaler next week. Anyway- thanks for showing off my home waters and keep up all the great content. Love your videos!
How much do your 3-pc stake out pole holders go for $? I don't see them listed on the site. Looks like you had a good day although the weather looked rough 👍
Thanks! They were $50 a set, but we stopped selling them as a standard item because we sold so few of them. They can still be made as a custom item however. Email the sales address on the support page if interested.
Love that topwater action. Up north you must have less floating grass than further south. Most shorelines I can get only 2 or 3 twitches before it weeds up…..Some of the bad weather days have been very good to me. On the cloudy days I just spot fish. I’ve caught them there before they should be there again and fan blind cast……. I think it’s been so windy lately that the pressure on them is off. I went out today a Saturday, which I rarely do and there were as few boats out as a Wednesday. Haha. I had a good day also. Thanks for the video Jeff.
Yes, it does seem like less floating grass to the north, probably because there has been less grass recovery. Windy days like that are when I've caught some of my biggest fish, historically, which is why I don't always just write them off. If the wind direction is right and other conditions are tolerable, there's a good chance it's worth venturing out. Glad you did well!
Jeff for the SLAM! Very nice! Looked like you were working a top water retrieve all day. Did they all take a top water? And thanks for TM part 2. Definitely gave me a lot to contemplate!
Good eye! Everything I CAUGHT was on two different topwater plugs, but I also threw a mirrodine, a zman shrimp and a paddle tail. Got bites on all of them, but most didn't stick.
Boom! Awesome slam Jeff. Nice Snook to top off the trip.
Thank you!
Man, what an epic day. It seems like I always do best on the days I almost decide not to go out for one reason or another. I spend most of my time in the banana NMZ on my kayak, but I need to get out there and learn the mosquito lagoon area better. I've heard sea grass is making a small comeback south end?
Thanks! Seagrass is coming back and not just in the south. I often talk about it during my videos, for example, my last trip to Eddy Creek I show video of the grass recovery progress on Whale's Tail and discuss it.
@@JeffHammerFishing great to hear, I'll have to put in at biolab and check it out some time.
wow, you had the magic, I was there that day, got 2 ladies, 2 tiny trout and a sail cat
Hey, same number of fish I caught! LOL Seriously though, better that than nothing.
What a great trip. Getting the slam with the wind blowing that hard is amazing!
Thank you! I sure didn't expect it to end up the way it did.
An excellent day! I was at the mines while you were at the Lagoon. To get a slot slam on a day like that is quite a feather in your cap. Good work. Looked like the falcon got a workout maybe. I see you reel shopping this coming week. I bought a few Sahara 3000’s that are doing well by me and don’t cost the farm. Thanks for taking us along and I’m looking for the post storm installment…….Tim
I used to buy Saharas but never found them to have much longevity. Symetres were much better reels for the price, but Shimano stopped producing them. I still have 3 working Symetres, including the one with the issues in this video. I've actually already disassembled, cleaned, oiled and greased all 3 and they're working great now. As far as new Shimano reels, Nasciis are my goto currently. I've got 4 of them and they seem to last.
Is there anything besides changing to stainless screws that you do to run those motors in saltwater?
Nope, not really. I'll put some grease on the transom clamp screws and periodically hit the hinge pin with some oil, but that's about it.
Thank you for the great info, keep up the good work.
Hi Jeff would you share with me what you use for your audio? Thank you
Great stuff Jeff! I have two tiller style Minnkotas that I’m going to run on my skiff. Just need a mount for them. (Clamp style) I’m glad I forwent the I drive 2000$+ that was an option for it.
Yup, the only way to get shallower and quieter with a tolling motor is to stow it and grab the push pole.
Excellent tips, thank you.
You're welcome Robert. Hope they help.
Jeff, I'm really glad you made this video. I've been banging my head against the wall for months over this exact problem. You know I fish where you fish and so often, especially in the more highly vegetated areas, my $4,500 starts-of-the-art, super-duper, Power Pole Move motor is nearly useless. I've spent an hour measuring every trolling motor at Bass Pro and all of the salt water models are at least 12" from top of propeller blade to the bottom of skeg, and the Power Pole Move is 11.5". So it's pretty easy to see you need at least a foot to use one of those. I noticed when I was at Bass Pro the only option that looked like it would be a significant upgrade would be the smallest fresh water tiller models, and even better one with a 3 blade prop. Unfortunately I can't think of a really good way to mount that style of motor to my skiff. But you have inspired me to think about it some more.
I've been wondering how that Move motor was going to work for you. The thing to remember is that trolling motors and products like Power Poles or Talons have always been designed with the freshwater bass fishing market in mind. That is where the vast majority of the market lies, so saltwater versions of these products are just derivatives of their freshwater cousins, and were never really designed for something like shallow saltwater inshore fishing. They make them hardier, with stainless components and more salt-resistant coatings, but they're still essentially the same product. That's why you hear so many fishing guides and TV spokespersons saying you can't use trolling motors for inshore fishing, or suggesting things like your Power Pole Move or a high end, super expensive push pole. They're only going to recommend their sponsor's latest and greatest products, not some old, cheap $100 Endura.
@@JeffHammerFishing You are correct in so many ways. What we do is a very small segment of the fishing industry. Ironically I think we have the toughest assignment for a trolling motor from the need to be truly silent (i've never seen a bass spook from noise), ultra shallow running, corrosion resistant, weed resistant, and tough enough to bounce of oysters and rocks. But I am intrigued by your setup and want to find a way to experiment with it. The motors are so cheap there is no reason not to give a try.
Hey Jeff, i’m from new Smyrna Beach and I fish mosquito Lagoon pretty regularly. Do you fish mostly on the south side or the north side?
I fish the entire lagoon, north to south, except I rarely venture up near the south causeway.
I use the Wrangler ATG pants and shorts. Elastic waist , quick dry and light if you get the nylon ones, available at Walmart for generally less than $25.
Thank you!
Jeff, thanks for the tips....I didn't know I could get a weedless prop. I'll be looking.
I've never really understood why they don't just come with weedless props as the standard.
How well is that fresh water trolling motor holding up in the salt water?
I actually talk about that in a trolling motor tip video I posted yesterday. Typically, 2-3 years, but most of the time they aren't actually dead at that point, I just retire them because they start getting noisy or have some other problem.
Thanks for the videos
You're welcome
You are living my dream 😊
Remember, nightmares are dreams too. LOL, thank you though!
@@JeffHammerFishing 😂😂😂
Ah ha!! I was very curious how you were able to maneuver with a trolling motor and still catch fish in that area. GREAT TIPS!!! Those fish are very skittish so this proves your point.
True! Yet I can still get right up on them and usually what ends up spooking them is not the sound of the motor running but me shutting off the trolling motor. That slight change in ambient sound will sometimes send them running.
You were right about one thing, those mudfish are brutes. Even more fun on my ultralights. I’m gonna be unpopular but I won’t release any more of them. They breed like bunnies and eat my gamefish. As already said, they’ll take over a body of water. If we meet at the ramp again I’ll tell you of some kayak lakes to put on your list. Thanks for the video and sorry about the rod tip……Tim
Looks like a good time and real good wind conditions. I haven’t been over in a while, bluegill are doing too well for me. Hope to get over soon and see how the south side is doing.
Bluegill fishing is still fishing! It's all good and at least you're getting out there.
Nice video Jeff. I’m getting into fishing and would like to know what rod and reel u we’re running. i recently just got myself a uglystik gx2 7 foot medium heavy and was wondering if I should get a medium or a light rod for mangrove fishing. Also what line awesome video btw I watch them all
Thank you! I generally stick with medium or medium light rods, and all of them you see in my saltwater videos are from Falcon Rods. No affiliation, I just like their coastal XG and HD rods. As for line, Windtamer or Power Pro Super Slick is what I use.