Cynoscion nebulosus
Silver-gray upper body densely covered with round black spots. The lower sides are iridescent silver, fading to white on the belly. Two prominent canine teeth in the upper jaw give them a predatory look. The dorsal fin is tall and continuous. Fresh-caught fish display a beautiful lavender-blue sheen that fades quickly.
Females grow much larger than males. Nearly all speckled trout over 24 inches are female. Males rarely exceed 4 lbs. Females can live 10+ years while males typically live 5-7 years.
Average catch is 14-20 inches (1-3 lbs). Keeper size varies by state (12-15 inch minimums). "Gator trout" over 25 inches weigh 5-8+ lbs. The world record is 17 lbs 7 oz, caught at Fort Pierce, Florida in 1995. Trophy trout over 8 lbs are considered a lifetime achievement.
Live shrimp under a popping cork (Cajun Thunder or MirrOlure) is the go-to technique for consistent catches. Soft plastic jigs — especially the MirrOlure Lil John, DOA Shrimp, and paddle-tail swimbaits in rootbeer/chartreuse or glow/chartreuse colors — are deadly when worked with a twitch-pause retrieve over grass flats. Topwater plugs (Super Spook Jr, MirrOlure Top Dog) produce explosive strikes at dawn and dusk. For trophy gator trout, slow-sinking twitchbaits (Catch 2000, Paul Brown Corky) worked near deep grass edges in winter are the ticket.
Light to medium-light spinning rod (6'6"-7 ft), 2500 reel, 8-10 lb braided line with 15-20 lb fluorocarbon leader. Trout have soft mouths — a light drag and steady pressure prevent tearouts.
Minimum size limits range from 12-15 inches depending on state. Bag limits typically 5-15 fish per person. Some states have a maximum size limit to protect breeding females. Check local regulations.
Regulations change frequently. Always verify current rules with your charter captain or state wildlife agency before fishing.
Florida · Northeast
North Carolina · Crystal Coast
Alabama · Mobile Bay
South Carolina · Lowcountry
North Carolina · Crystal Coast
Mississippi · Gulf Coast
Georgia · Georgia Coast
Virginia · Eastern Shore
North Carolina · Cape Fear
Florida · Nature Coast
South Carolina · Lowcountry
Florida · Tampa Bay
Florida · Space Coast
Louisiana · Cajun Coast
Texas · Lower Coast
Florida · Nature Coast
Georgia · Georgia Coast
Alabama · Gulf Coast
Florida · Panhandle
Louisiana · Cajun Coast
Alabama · Mobile Bay
Florida · Northeast
Florida · Southeast
Alabama · Mobile Bay
Florida · Southwest
Florida · Panhandle
Texas · Upper Coast
Texas · Upper Coast
South Carolina · Grand Strand
Louisiana · Southeast Louisiana
Alabama · Gulf Coast
Mississippi · Gulf Coast
North Carolina · Outer Banks
South Carolina · Lowcountry
Florida · Nature Coast
Louisiana · Cajun Coast
Florida · Keys
Florida · Northeast
Georgia · Georgia Coast
Florida · Keys
Florida · Keys
South Carolina · Lowcountry
Louisiana · Southwest Louisiana
North Carolina · Outer Banks
Florida · Keys
Florida · Southwest
Texas · Mid Coast
Florida · Space Coast
Florida · Southeast
Alabama · Mobile Bay
North Carolina · Crystal Coast
South Carolina · Grand Strand
South Carolina · Grand Strand
North Carolina · Outer Banks
Florida · Southwest
Louisiana · Southeast Louisiana
Florida · Space Coast
Virginia · Hampton Roads
South Carolina · Grand Strand
Mississippi · Gulf Coast
Alabama · Gulf Coast
North Carolina · Outer Banks
Florida · Panhandle
Mississippi · Gulf Coast
South Carolina · Grand Strand
Florida · Panhandle
Texas · Mid Coast
Louisiana · Cajun Coast
Texas · Lower Coast
Texas · Lower Coast
Texas · Mid Coast
Texas · Mid Coast
Florida · Southwest
Georgia · Georgia Coast
Florida · Space Coast
Louisiana · Southeast Louisiana
Texas · Lower Coast
North Carolina · Cape Fear
Florida · Northeast
Florida · Tampa Bay
Georgia · Georgia Coast
Florida · Nature Coast
Florida · Southeast
Texas · Upper Coast
North Carolina · Crystal Coast
Florida · Tampa Bay
Florida · Tampa Bay
Georgia · Georgia Coast
Louisiana · Southeast Louisiana
Virginia · Hampton Roads
Florida · Southeast
North Carolina · Cape Fear
North Carolina · Cape Fear
Expert tips, seasonal reports, and fishing guides featuring Speckled Trout.
The western end of Bogue Sound near Swansboro produces big speckled trout from September through November on grass beds
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Species Spotlight
Redfish and Speckled Trout are PCB's top inshore targets. Compare tactics, seasons, and which species fits your trip.
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