The Ghost of the Flats: A Guide to Speckled Trout
If the redfish is the bulldog of the flats, the speckled trout is the ghost. Also known as spotted seatrout, these beautiful silver fish with a canopy of black spots are voracious predators, famous for their aggressive strikes and signature head-shaking fights. They don’t have the raw pulling power of a redfish, but their lightning-fast strikes, prominent canine teeth, and tendency to hunt in packs make them one of the most exciting and popular targets in all of inshore fishing.
Where to Find Speckled Trout: Follow the Grass and Bait
Speckled trout are ambush predators, and their primary hunting grounds are healthy grass flats. They use the grass for camouflage, waiting for unsuspecting shrimp or baitfish to swim by. The key is to find healthy flats with good current flow and signs of life.
- Grass Flats with Potholes: Look for large, healthy grass flats that have sandy patches, or “potholes,” mixed in. Trout will sit on the edges of these potholes, waiting to ambush anything that crosses the sand.
- Points and Cuts with Current: Trout will use points and cuts between islands as ambush points, especially during a moving tide. They sit in the calmer water, waiting for the current to bring them a meal.
- Oyster Bars: Just like redfish, specks know that oyster bars are a buffet of small crabs and baitfish.
The Top 3 Lures for Speckled Trout
Speckled trout are aggressive and will readily attack a well-presented lure. These three types are must-haves.
- Topwater Walking Bait: There is nothing more thrilling than a big speckled trout exploding on a topwater lure. In calm conditions, especially at dawn and dusk, a “walk-the-dog” style lure like a Heddon Super Spook Jr. is the most exciting way to catch them.
- Soft Plastic Paddle Tail: Just like for redfish, a 3- to 4-inch paddle tail swimbait on a 1/8 oz or 1/4 oz jig head is a proven fish-finder. Pearl white, chartreuse, and root beer are classic colors.
- Suspending Twitch Bait: When the water is a bit cooler, a suspending lure that darts and pauses is deadly. Lures like the MirrOlure MirrOdine or the Corky Fat Boy are legendary in Texas for catching big trout.
Live Bait: The Ultimate Speckled Trout Tactic
If you want to guarantee action, you simply cannot beat a live shrimp. It’s a speckled trout’s favorite food. The most popular way to present it is under a “popping cork.” This specialized cork makes a loud “chugging” sound when you jerk it, which attracts curious trout from a distance. A live shrimp suspended 2-3 feet below the cork is often irresistible.
The “Gator” Trout: Targeting Trophy Specks
A true trophy speckled trout—often called a “gator trout”—is a fish over 25 inches. These are almost always large females, and they behave differently than their smaller school-mates. They are often solitary, territorial, and prefer one large meal over several small ones. To target these giants, you need to use larger lures (like a full-sized topwater or a 5-inch paddle tail) and fish during the prime trophy seasons of late winter and early spring.
Handling Speckled Trout with Care
Speckled trout are more delicate than redfish. They have a thin membrane in their mouth that can be easily torn by a hook. Never hold a speckled trout by its jaw like a bass. The best practice is to use a net to land the fish and pliers to quickly remove the hook, supporting the fish’s body horizontally for a quick photo and a healthy release.
The speckled trout is one of the most prized catches in the world of Inshore Fishing, offering a challenge and a thrill that keeps anglers coming back for more.
-Captain Sal
