Speckled Trout
Speckled trout are an extremely popular fish caught mostly along the coastline from Texas around Florida and up into the Carolinas.
They are commonly found in bays and estuaries inshore. They tend to stick to shallow water grass beds, pilings and sand bars during the warmer months and move into deeper waters as the temperature declines.
Most adult speckled trout grow between 19-25 inches and weigh between 2 and 4 pounds.
Due to them being fun to catch and quite delicious, speckled trout are regulated nearly everywhere they are caught.
Artificial lures including spoons, jigs, and plugs are extremely effective but nothing beats live shrimp as they are a favorite of speckled trout.
If you have any questions please don’t hesitate to reach out to us during our business hours listed at the bottom of the page.
Interesting Facts About Speckled Trout
- Also known as spotted seatrout or spotted weakfish, ironically speckled trout are not actually trout at all. They are part of the drum family.
- Females of the species grow faster and live longer than males meaning that most of the larger fish caught are females.
- Shrimp is probably their favorite, though larger fish actually prefer mullet and can even consume a mullet more than half their size.
- The speckled trout is the state fish of Louisiana.
- The world record speckled trout is 17 pounds 7 ounces and was caught in the Indian River Lagoon near Fort Pierce, Florida.
- Due to their relatively delicate mouths, speckled trout are sometimes known as ‘papermouths’. Setting the hook too hard or attempting to muscle them into the boat often rips the hook free. Setting the drag properly and using patience is the most effective method. The fish will eventually tire itself out and end up in the boat.