June in the Lagoon; hands down my favorite month for all around fishing activity. We still have a local run of shrimp happening, albeit the season is winding down. The silver mullet are flooding the lagoon system which means the reds and trout will be making the switch to a fin-fish diet (oh-boy, oh-boy). And most importantly if you like to catch a LOT of trout it’s PIGFISH season!

June’s mostly stable weather patterns will hopefully allow us to fish to our hearts content. While it will be warm the water should not yet be too hot to put the bite off like it will during the mid-days of true summer.

Covering the entire water column will be necessary now as the entire lagoon system will “get fishy” with tarpon, jacks, ladyfish, bluefish, spanish mackerel and pompano.

Of course the flats will be holding redfish in great numbers and many gator trout as well. The usual suspects of artificial lures will work as always. My favorite soft plastic bait being the Exude RT Slug in Smokin’ Shad whenever I’m fishing around finger mullet pods.

Watch the culverts for flowing water after a rain shower. You’ll not find a better opportunity for a slam than at these fish magnets. I like smaller baits here like weedless jigs, small top-water plugs, 3 and 4 inch soft plastics and flies!

The inlet and beaches will be alive with tarpon, jacks, snook around the rocks and more. Live pogies, mullet and greenies will all do the trick.

RIGHT NOW the monster reds are on a great bite during the very early mornings. This past Monday Bob M. landed a 45 in fish that weighed 34 pounds you wouldn’t believe the girth on this FAT GIRL! While live pinfish and fresh cut baits are doing the best jobs they can be taken on artificials too in the twilight hours. Some anglers are doing well with the 4 inch GULP shrimp throughout the day on the rare day when the fish are extremely active after the sun gets bright.

Slot sized reds are on the same basic pattern. Fish at or a bit before dawn and give it up by 10 AM. We are still experiencing too clear water conditions here and once the sun gets up a bit the fish get VERY SPOOKY!

I think that as the summer rains begin and we start seeing a few algae blooms forming things will level out a bit.

This is Captain Mark signing off; may your rods bend, your drags scream and your knots hold!

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