Speckled Trout (Spotted Weakfish)
Speckled trout are
found in similar
areas as the redfish
and snook. Speckled
trout are also known as spotted weakfish. It is an inshore
species that is beloved by small boat fishermen, pier and
jetty anglers, flats fishermen and beach fishermen.
Catching Speckled Trout
These fish have a very soft mouth that is easily ripped.
Light tackle and small hooks are a must for catching
speckled trout. Most fish are average 1 to 5 pounds, but
some fish in the 10 pound class are caught. When you
have a big fish on the line, use a landing net or drag it
onto the beach. If you try to lift it out of the water, there is
a good chance of the hook ripping through the mouth.
Drifting live shrimp across shallow grass beds in bays and
rivers is the most popular technique. Some fishermen use
dead shrimp, found in stores, to chum for speckled trout.
Larger baits such as live pinfish and mullet will work for
catching larger trout. Artificial lures also work. The most
popular lures are jigs and deep-diving plugs. The meat is
soft and it tastes ok. If you are keeping speckled trout,
make sure to get them on ice immediately to preserve
their flavor.
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