Speckled Sea Trout Fishing Charters

Speckled Sea Trout: Slivery with scattered spots all over them. When setting the hook be careful because they have very delicate mouths. Can be caught through out the year.

During the coolest months trout move into creeks, rivers and deeper waters. As the water starts to warm trout move to grassy flats.

Speckled Sea Trout Limits

• Slot 15-20 inches
• 4 per person
• One over 20" per bag limit

Their size determines what baits they will prefer to eat. Trout are easily caught on artificial lures, early in the morning is an excellent time to catch aggressive fish on top water. As the day progresses try soft plastics.

• Dark gray or green above, with sky-blue tinges shading to silvery and white below
• Numerous distinct round black spots on back, extending to the dorsal fin and tail
• No barbels and no scales on the soft dorsal fin
• 1 or 2 prominent canine teeth usually present at tip of upper jaw

Seatrout found inshore and nearshore in and around seagrass meadows, mangrove-fringed shorelines, deep holes and channels and above oyster bars.

Spawning occurs inshore from March through November. Spotted setrout move into deeper, still waters during colder months. They feed on baitfish, mullet, shrimp and crabs.

Florida State Record Spotted Seatrout:
17 lb 7 oz, caught near Ft. Pierce

Free-line live shrimp or small pinfish or pigfish (grunts) near the bottom to entice trout out of grass-bed holes. Attaching a float will allow these baits to drift over the grass beds as you search for trout. Casting with soft-bodied jigs, top-water poppers and spoons can be effective. Trout are very delicate, so returning unwanted or illegal fish promptly to the water is necessary to maintain a healthy population. Spotted seatrout are a good eating fish.

Spotted seatrout reach 3 feet and 15 pounds but are common in the 4-pound range.

Captain Dave Stephens * (941) 916-5769 * Back Bay Xtremes * PO Box 510746, Punta Gorda FL 33951

Flats Fishing Charters for Charlotte Harbour, Punta Gorda, Florida