Speckled Trout, also known as Spotted Seatrout, are feisty fish. Boasting a white belly, greenish back, and a unique black spotted design, they’re pretty distinctive. While they aren’t the biggest fish out there—growing only to about 12—30 inches on average—they put up an impressive fight. Oh, and they’re absolutely delicious!
Seatrout are relatively easy to catch, especially because they’ll eat a lot of things presented to them. And that’s where we come in. In this guide, we’ll focus on the best ways to catch Specks on artificials. Get ready to discover some of the best fishing lures for Speckled Trout. Let’s dive in!
Understanding Speckled Trout
We’ve already talked about some of these fish’s characteristics but let’s take a look at what makes Speckled Trout unique. Knowing a bit about their behavior will help you identify which techniques will come in handy when targeting them…
The first thing to note is they’re a little aggressive. They’ll lunge on and strike your bait hard, before thrashing as you reel them in. When in the boat or your hands, they often try to flop and escape. Be careful if they fall on the deck as they excrete a lot of slime which will make surfaces very slippery. They also don’t have many teeth, but their long canines in the front are pretty sharp so be careful when handling them.
When you get them into the boat, depending on your region’s size limits, open season, and bag limits, you can take these guys home and get a tasty meal out of your fishing trip.
Best Fishing Lures for Speckled Trout
As mentioned earlier, Speckled Trout have a large array of meal preferences. That means you have plenty of opportunities to get them to bite. They enjoy live bait like pilchards or shrimp as well as cut bait—and the list of lures they’ll target is endless.
Keep in mind to stick to lures with colors resembling such bait fish—we’re talking gray, white, black, brown, and green. Seatrout will target colorful shades too but the list above will give off a more natural appearance. The same goes for your style of lure. Try to pick lures that look more realistic. That being said, Speckled Trout can strike at almost anything!
In any case, let’s take a closer look at some of the most common Speckled Trout lures. We’ll run through what sets each one apart and how they capture the attention of hungry Trout.
Soft Plastics
Paddle tails and flukes are amongst the most effective options for artificial lures for Speckled Trout. The former are popular because they’re simple, not too costly, and they look realistic to fish when paired with a jig head. You can bounce these guys on the bottoms of flats, or you can cast and reel them in near oyster bars and mangroves. Flukes are similar except these are lightweight so they’re more effective in creating an ongoing movement underneath the surface rather than bouncing off the bottom.
Jerk Baits
These long, oblong-shaped plastics are painted to look like bait fish. Jerk baits have treble hooks allowing you more chances at a successful hookup, and they flash and make noise to further attract Seatrout. You can work these underneath or along the surface, jerking and pausing them, to bring in nearby fish.
Topwater Lures
If you want an exciting tool for your next fishing adventure, try out a topwater lure for Speckled Trout. You slowly jerk these along the water’s surface to create a zig-zag movement with quiet clicks. The best part is when you see the wake form behind the lure and suddenly a big blow-up occurs. Once the Trout has your lure, you’ll immediately start to feel the tug as your lure disappears beneath the surface.
Popping Corks
Similar to topwater lures, popping corks are designed to attract attention. The cork pops as you jerk it, sending out a loud noise that captures the attention of nearby predators. A great lure to add to your popping cork is an artificial shrimp such as Berkley’s Gulp shrimp. Basically, the cork brings the fish in, and then the fish will go after your lure at the bottom.
Imitation Plastics
Imitation plastics are beneficial when fishing for Speckled Trout because they provide the most realistic approach compared to any other lure. They’re designed to look real, with excellent detail, and are also often paired with strong odors to further attract fish. As mentioned above, Berkeley’s Gulp shrimp is an excellent example, as well as bait fish plastics like those designed to imitate mullet or pilchard.
Techniques for Speckled Trout Fishing
When it comes to techniques for Speckled Trout fishing, there are a variety of ways you can successfully get it done. The most basic method consists of casting out a live bait and letting it sit until the Trout strikes it. You can also do the same with cut bait.
For Speckled Trout lures, you have the option of letting them sit as well, but you’ll need to jerk them around here and there to make them appear more lively. You can also cast and reel in quickly or slowly to make your lure look like a real bait fish on the go.
Another thing to keep in mind is the conditions you’re fishing in. Speckled Trout fishing is best done around dawn and dusk. You can expect to catch them more frequently during overcast conditions. That being said, they can also bite in the middle of the hottest days of the year, especially if you select the right lure and technique!
Recommended Spots for Speckled Trout Fishing
Before we wrap up, let’s take a look at some prime Speckled Trout fishing spots. These guys will stay inshore, so you don’t have to travel far to find them. However, you’ll have the best results when fishing from a boat.
Oyster bars, mangroves, sand bars, flats, estuaries, bays, and beaches are prime locations for finding Seatrout. You can often throw in other shallow regions—and sometimes deep ones too—where you can quickly get a Trout bite. If you’re unsure where to start, take a look at some of the most common areas you can find Speckled Trout:
- Ten Thousand Islands. Take it from me, someone who regularly fishes in this area: There are Speckled Trout all around the Ten Thousand Islands. Flats, oyster bars, and a crazy amount of mangrove islands provide a great habitat for fishing for these fish.
- Florida Keys. If you’re looking for a tropical location to target some Speckled Trout, look no further than the Florida Keys! The water is super clear so it’s easy to spot the Trout, with flats and shallow areas providing prime Seatrout hunting grounds.
- Mosquito Lagoon. On the east coast of Florida, this lagoon is known for its high numbers of Seatrout, with some reaching large sizes. This 28-mile-long lagoon provides plenty of opportunities for hooking up to Seatrout with artificial lures, no matter your preference!
- Galveston Bay. Texas is similar to Florida, providing endless locations for great fishing. Galveston Bay contains plenty of salt marshes within the estuary filled with Trout awaiting your lure.
- The Outer Banks. The sounds separating North Carolina’s mainland from the Outer Banks are prime inshore fishing grounds. Seatrout are common here, making them a staple of the local diet.
- Chesapeake Bay. The northernmost hotspot on this list, the shallow inshore waters of the Chesapeake Bay are year-round playgrounds of these fish.
Speckled Trout Fishing: Your Next Lure Awaits!
And now it’s over to you! You can start preparing to put your new knowledge to the test. Speckled Trout are a fun species to fish for and it’s a bonus that you can put some dinner on the table, too. As you get ready for your next adventure, be sure to pack your gear with some of the best lures for Speckled Trout fishing.
Which lure will you be trying out first? Any favorites? We hope to hear what brings you luck in the comments below!
The post The Best Speckled Trout Lures : An Angler’s Guide appeared first on FishingBooker Blog.
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